Occupational asthma induced by inhalation and ingestion of garlic

Repeated exposure to garlic dust induced severe asthma in an atopic patient. Subsequently, the patient also developed marked adverse responses after ingestion of garlic. Immunologic investigations carried out in an asymptomatic period revealed significant skin reactivity and bronchospasm after challenge with both garlic dust and extract. The results of a controlled oral challenge test to garlic dust were also positive. The patient's serum contained unusually high quantities of garlic-specific IgE. Cross allergenicity between garlic and other members of the Liliaceae family were documented by the RAST inhibition technique.