[Plants as the cause of contact allergy diagnosed at the Dermatological Clinic, Medical Academy, in Białystok].

In patients with allergic changes hospitalized in the years 1984-1988 in the Department a careful history was obtained for detection of correlations between the appearance of skin lesions and contact with plants. In patients with a positive history patch tests were done with a panel of routine allergens and leaves and/or flowers of certain plants. Positive tests with various plants were obtained in 14 cases. In 6 patients reporting contact with primrose positive tests were obtained with flowers and leaves of this plant, four of five tobacco planters tested who had eczematous lesions of the hands, aave also positive results of the test with tobacco leaves, and in three children reporting contact with butter-cup changes were observed resembling dermatitis pratensis bullosa. In one case allergy to parsnip was demonstrated. It is stressed that plants may give rise to contact dermatitis as well as to allergic-toxic changes.