[Immunoallergic skin manifestations associated with new pets: three cases]

Abstract

Background: The number of household pets increased greatly during the twentieth century, with numbers of new pets (NP, i.e. any pets other than cats and dogs) rising especially sharply over the last decade.

Patients and methods: We first of all report the case of a female patient with eczema lesions on areas skin coming into contact with a ferret, with removal of the animal resulting in wound healing, followed by two patients presenting atypical polymorphous erythema reactions induced by dermatophytes present in their pet rat.

Discussion: While the most common allergies are respiratory, allergic skin reactions, both immediate and delayed, may also result from contact with these new allergens. The animal itself or its environment may be the cause.

Keywords: Allergic dermatitis; Allergie; Allergènes domestiques; Contact eczema; Dermatoses allergiques; Eczéma de contact; Erythema multiforme; Household allergens; Hypersensitivity; New pets; Nouveaux animaux de compagnie; Érythème polymorphe.