Hordeum murinum induced pustular irritant contact
dermatitis
Key clinical message: Plant induced contact dermatitis is very
rare. We describe the case of
two siblings with Hordeum murinum induced pustular irritant
contact dermatitis.
Key words: allergology, Hordeum murinum, contact dermatitis,
patch test.
We describe the cases of two siblings, aged 8 and 10 years, who
consulted with multiple yellowish pustules and well-demarcated erythema
on the face (Figure 1). The eruption started a few hours after
accidental exposure to a plant, named Hordeum murinum , while they
were playing in the garden (Figure 2). The mother mentioned that this
had been their first exposure to this plant. There were no other lesions
either on the skin or on mucosae. Laboratory findings were without
abnormalities. There was no bacterial growth in a culture of a pustular
specimen. The patients were treated with a short course of topical
corticosteroids. A resolution of the skin lesions was achieved within a
few days. Five weeks after the resolution of dermatitis, the patients
were patch tested with wetted and pounded leaves and petals of
H.murinum.1 Readings were performed on the day (D)2,
D4, and D7 and showed negative results.1 So, we
diagnosed the patients with H. murinum -induced pustular irritant
contact dermatitis.