A case of immediate‐type allergy from polypropylene in a particle filter mask in a nurse

A 28-year-old non-atopic female nurse presented with suspected immediate-type hypersensitivity to FFP2 masks. She had started to develop erythematous, itchy macules and wheals of the face, décolleté and back, together with an occasional globus sensation and shortness of breath, within 30 min of wearing the masks. These reactions would last up to 24 h after their removal. Surgical masks provoked similar yet less pronounced reactions, whereas the wearing of commercialized textile masks caused no reactions. As antihistamines proved unsuccessful, the patient became incapable of continuing her work. Initially, patch tests with additional immediate readings were performed using the baseline series of the German Contact Allergy Group (DKG) (SmartPractice, Finn Chambers on Scanpor, 8 mm) and the used FFP2 masks (‘as is’). Already after a few minutes wheals,

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