| Abstract: | The authors consider sensitivity to foods and sensitivity to inhalants about equal in importance in bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic bronchitis. Food allergens are the sole cause of bronchial and nasal allergic disease in 20 to 40 per cent of cases throughout life, including old age; inhalants are the sole cause in approximately an equal number; and sensitivity to foods and to inhalants are often associated. THEIR FREQUENT RECOGNITION OF SENSITIVITY TO FOODS AS A CAUSE OF DISEASE, THE AUTHORS BELIEVE, DEPENDS ON: (1) The recognition of the fallibility of skin testing and the usual negative skin reactions to allergenic foods in chronic and recurrent bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. (2) The adequate use of trial diets, especially cereal-free elimination diet. (3) The realization that ingested foods remain in the body usually for two to four weeks and that the diet must be continued until symptoms have been relieved for two to three times as long as preceding relief between attacks. |
