Immediate­Type Allergy Related to Okra (Hibiscus esculentus Linn) Picking and Packing

Two workers (cases A and B) engaged in picking and packing okra who had complaints of work­related allergic symptoms showed distinct positive intradermal reactions to two brands of okra extracts only with thresholds of 1 × l0^–8 w/v for Case A and 1 × 10^–6 w/v for Case B. Both also showed positive reactions to okra extracts in the Prausnitz–Küstner test and in the provocative nasal test. The radioallergosorbent test scores to the okra extract were determined to be 2 (defined as clear positive) for Case A and 1 (border line) for Case B. These findings indicated that the allergic conditions of these cases were from an IgE­mediated immediate­type allergy induced by handling okra. To confirm the etiology of the two cases 14 farmers engaged in picking and packing okra were examined. Among them, 8 subjects (57%) showed positive intradermal reactions to okra extracts. A close association between intradermal reactions to okra extracts and complaints of workrelated allergic symptoms was seen in these subjects. These results confirm that the okra may be capable of inducing IgE­mediated immediate­type allergy to workers handling okra.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press