Phyto-photo dermatitis.

THE DESIGNATION phyto-photo dermatitis is an excellent self-explanatory term for this skin condition. It was first coined by Klaber in 1942. He suggested that this name should be used to describe skin eruptions caused by external contact with plants and their extracts after subsequent exposure to sunlight. This rather interesting skin condition is not seen very often in this part of the world. It is not a 'new' skin disease and on reviewing the literature various authors make mention of the fact that the condition was probably known of in countries such as India, Arabia and Egypt many centuries before Christ. Our present interest in the subject was stimulated by presentation at our Outpatient Department of a young boy of seven years of age with typical lesions and a typical history.