Two patients with contact dermatitis from emetine hydrochloride have recently come under our observation, and on investigation this condition was found in 3 other members of a group of 10 persons working with this substance. Peshkin1 mentioned its occurrence in 1924, noting "urticaria and itching of hands and forearms from handling emetine solution." Weber2 cited this reference. Gouriou3 reported a "zosteriform eruption with urticarious elements in the region of the right femorocutaneous nerve after the subcutaneous injection of emetine hydrochloride in that area." This eruption could have been a contact dermatitis from this drug.
The following cases of typical contact dermatitis in women handling the same batch of emetine hydrochloride in the same plant are reported because of the paucity of references to this substance as a cause of dermatitis.
REPORT OF CASES
Case 1.—
Miss L. W., aged 37, when seen had a dermatitis that had