Occupations
- Medical personnel
- Nurse
- Pharmaceutical industry
Agents
Ispaghule, Pysllium.
Incidence
Incidence: 3.6 to 27.9% of subjects working in the factory. However, there is a lower incidence for those working in health care.
Atopy plays an important role.
IgE-dependent mechanism.
Certain researchers report a cross reactivity with the common plantain. The use of psyllium as a pill rather than a powder has reduced the number of cases under medical care.
Conditions
Pysllium is a popular laxative. The allergen is obtained from plantain (plantago ovata). It is also known as ispaghula.
Symptoms
Asthma, conjunctivitis, urticaria and angio-oedema. In the case of ingestion by a sensitized subject generalised anaphylactic reaction may occur as well as asthma.
Diagnostic methods
Skin prick test and immunological assay RAST/CAP RAST.
A bronchial provocation test (in hospital) may be dangerous but is definitive.