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Contact allergy to herbal teas derived from Asteraceae plants
Kerstin Lundh1, Monica Hindsén, Birgitta Gruvberger
1Department of Dermatology, County Hospital, Halmstad, Sweden. kerstin.c.lundh@lthalland.se
Abstract:
Contact allergy to herbal teas derived from the Asteraceae plant family was investigated in patients allergic to sesquiterpene lactones (SLs). 20 patients with a known contact allergy to SLs were recalled and patch tested with aqueous extracts of 8 different herbal teas based on Asteraceae plants as well as with parthenolide and other SLs. In 18 of 20 patients with SL allergy, there were positive test reactions to the Asteraceae teas, mainly to those based on German chamomile, dandelion and wormwood. Among the SLs, parthenolide was the most frequent co-reactor. Obviously, most patients with a contact allergy to SLs are allergic to commercial teas derived from the Asteraceae plant family as well.
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