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1861189 
Journal Article 
STETHOSCOPE DERMATITIS - AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION 
Bischof, RO 
1993 
Yes 
Cutis
ISSN: 0011-4162
EISSN: 2326-6929 
NIOSH/00223239 
51 
4 
244-244 
8477604 
WOS:A1993PK09200007 
A case of stethoscope dermatitis, a form of nickel (7440020) contact dermatitis, in a medical intern was described. A 31 year old male medical intern complaining of a rash of 2 weeks duration on the right side of the neck was evaluated. He reported that mild pruritis, mild scaling, and intermittent erythema occurred at the site but denied other skin diseases or a history of similar rashes. His medical history was unremarkable except for springtime environmental allergies. He was not taking any medications and did not wear any jewelry or use cologne, cosmetics, or similar products in the head and neck area. Examination revealed an isolated 1 by 3 centimeter slightly raised elongated oval plaque at the base of the right side of the neck that was associated with moderate erythema and mild scaling. When questioned further, the patient reported that he started working in an emergency department several weeks earlier and that he had been wearing his stethoscope around his neck continuously since starting this work because of a steady stream of patients. When the patient put the stethoscope around his neck, its metal tubing overlay the lesion. He was instructed to use the stethoscope as little as possible, only when examining patients, and to apply 1% hydrocortisone to the site. The lesion cleared within 2 weeks. The author notes that besides being a cause of dermatitis, stethoscopes have been associated with auricular nerve neuralgia. These problems can be prevented by avoiding prolonged wearing of the stethoscope around the neck.