Tobacco Sensitivity in the Allergic Population A Specific Allergic Entity

Abstract

Tobacco sensitivity is seen in atopic patients who are non-smokers but who have clinical symptoms on exposure to tobacco smoke. It is estimated that 8,000,000 people with common allergies are also clinically sensitive to tobacco. Females outnumber males by about 4:1, and children are affected as well as adults. The specificity of tobacco sensitivity in 16 atopic patients is confirmed by positive skin reactions, passive transfer and gel diffusion studies. The results of desensitization with tobacco extract in a larger series of 53 tobacco sensitive patients is discussed. The criteria for making the diagnosis of specific clinical tobacco sensitivity is outlined.