Profile of Dermatological Disorders Among Workers Involved in Fruit Growing Industry of Kashmir Valley in North India

INTRODUCTION: Skin disorders represent a major proportion of occupational disorders. Dermatoses are becoming a source of concern in various population groups. In Kashmir valley, a large number of people are associated directly or indirectly with horticulture. Fruit cultivation is the main occupation of around 33 lakh people in the Union Territory. AIM: To study the profile of dermatological disorders in workers involved in fruit growing industry of Kashmir valley. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional observational study, carried out over a period of 2 years, in which 701 workers of fruit growing industry of Kashmir valley were screened. RESULTS: 276 (39.37%) of these workers were found to have skin lesions while the rest, that is, 425 (60.63%) were not found to have any dermatoses. Out of the total dermatological lesions observed, occupational dermatoses contributed to 94 cases (34.05%), while non-occupational dermatoses accounted for 182 cases (65.94%). Among the occupational dermatoses, friction-related disorders (callosities and cuts) were predominant (15.9%) followed by allergic (12%) and irritant contact dermatitis (6.2%). Out of the non-occupational dermatoses group, the major portion was comprised by polymorphic light eruption (6.2%) in non-infectious type while in infectious type, onychomycoses predominated (3.3%). CONCLUSION: Dermatological conditions form a major group of occupational dermatoses among workers involved in fruit cultivation.