PMID- 12635581
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20030725
LR  - 20161020
IS  - 1088-5412 (Print)
IS  - 1088-5412 (Linking)
VI  - 24
IP  - 1
DP  - 2003 Jan-Feb
TI  - Immediate systemic hypersensitivity reaction associated with topical application 
      of Australian tea tree oil.
PG  - 73-5
AB  - Australian tea tree oil has been used as a veterinary antiseptic for many years 
      and, more recently, has been extended into human use. There have been many 
      reports of allergic contact dermatitis and toxicity reactions, but it has never 
      been implicated in immediate systemic hypersensitivity reactions. A 38-year-old 
      man experienced immediate flushing, pruritus, throat constriction, and 
      lightheadedness after topical application of tea tree oil. Our purpose was to 
      determine whether this represented an immunoglobulin E (IgE)--mediated reaction. 
      Skin-prick and intradermal testing was performed, as well as enzyme-linked 
      immunosorbent assays for specific IgG and IgE against tea tree oil. The patient 
      had a positive wheal and flare reaction on intradermal testing with tea tree oil. 
      All five patient controls were negative on skin testing. No specific IgG or IgE 
      was detected. We present the first reported case of an immediate systemic 
      hypersensitivity reaction occurring after topical application of Australian tea 
      tree oil, confirmed by positive wheal and flare reaction on skin testing.
FAU - Mozelsio, Nancy B
AU  - Mozelsio NB
AD  - Division of Allergy-Immunology, Ernest S. Bazley Asthma and Allergic Diseases 
      Center, Department of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern 
      University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
FAU - Harris, Kathleen E
AU  - Harris KE
FAU - McGrath, Kris G
AU  - McGrath KG
FAU - Grammer, Leslie C
AU  - Grammer LC
LA  - eng
PT  - Case Reports
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - United States
TA  - Allergy Asthma Proc
JT  - Allergy and asthma proceedings
JID - 9603640
RN  - 0 (Anti-Infective Agents, Local)
RN  - 68647-73-4 (Tea Tree Oil)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - Anaphylaxis/chemically induced
MH  - Anti-Infective Agents, Local/*adverse effects
MH  - Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology
MH  - Drug Hypersensitivity/etiology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*chemically induced
MH  - Male
MH  - Tea Tree Oil/*adverse effects
EDAT- 2003/03/15 04:00
MHDA- 2003/07/26 05:00
CRDT- 2003/03/15 04:00
PHST- 2003/03/15 04:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2003/07/26 05:00 [medline]
PHST- 2003/03/15 04:00 [entrez]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Allergy Asthma Proc. 2003 Jan-Feb;24(1):73-5.