the aim of this study was to assess the frequency of rhinitis in asthmatic infants. a cross-sectional study was conducted using clinical data obtained from a standardized allergy work-up form that includes specific questions on common allergic diseases. asthmatic patients were seen at the first visit to the pediatric allergy unit, from january 2001 to january 2006, were selected for analysis. d...

BACKGROUND Hypersensitivity to penicillin has been studied worldwide, but data regarding patterns of sensitization in Arabian Gulf countries are scarce. OBJECTIVE To describe the patterns of penicillin hypersensitivity during a 6-year study in Kuwait in terms of demographics, type of the culprit drug, in vivo and in vitro allergy testing. METHODS One hundred and twenty-four patients referre...

Thirty-seven patients with asthma or alveolitis thought to result from exposure to materials commonly encountered at their work were tested by inhalation of an aerosol of these materials. Twenty-four (65%) developed an immediate asthmatic reaction, which was followed by a non-immediate reaction in 10, of whom six developed the signs and symptoms of alveolitis. Eighteen (76%) patients with asthm...

BACKGROUND The European Union requires allergenic food ingredients to appear on labels in order to protect allergic consumers. OBJECTIVE To determine whether traces of egg-, milk-, and fish-derived processing aids used in winemaking might elicit clinical reactions in food-allergic patients. METHODS Five German wines were fined with a high dose of egg albumin, lysozyme, milk casein, fish gel...

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is a type of exercise-induced anaphylaxis associated with postprandial exercise. We describe a 19-year-old man with FDEIA. Our patient complained of urticaria, angioedema, dizziness and hypotension associated with exercise after ingestion of walnut-containing foods in a warm environment. Skin prick test and prick to prick test were positive fo...

The basophil activation test (BAT) has proven to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of IgE-mediated food allergy and the evaluation of clinical tolerance in food allergic patients. Until now, successful oral desensitization to food allergen has been correlated with changes in cytokine production (IL-4 and INF-g) and allergenspecific IgE and IgG4 antibodies. We report a case of a 12-year-old mal...

BACKGROUND In a subgroup of patients with atopic eczema (AE), aeroallergens are relevant eliciting factors. The atopy patch test (APT) was proposed as inflammation model for AE. OBJECTIVE It was the aim of this study to investigate the effect of pretreatment with 1% pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) on the APT and skin prick test (SPT). METHODS In a randomized, controlled, double-blind study, 20 ...

Correspondence To the Editor: A 65‑year‑old woman was admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital because of rash with pruritus for 1 month after taking Euthyrox. Rash attacked without other symptoms 20 days after she took Euthyrox 50 μg once a day and aggravated when Euthyrox was continued for the next 2 days. The past history included partial thyroidectomy for hyperthyroidism in 1982; t...

Corticosteroid hypersensitivity is a rare, but troublesome condition often mimicking the symptoms of the underlying disease and therefore probably underdiagnosed. Our objective is to underline the importance of increased awareness of corticosteroid hypersensitivity and of determining the tolerability to other corticosteroid preparations and thus identify a safe treatment alternative. We report ...