EPILEPSY ASSOCIATED WITH SEASONAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS

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Abstract
A case is presented of a patient in whom symptoms of grand mal type epilepsy were associated with symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis due to sensitivity to ragweed pollen. Abnormal eeg patterns of the grand mal type were recorded in the patient during the presence of active symptoms of allergic rhinitis following the deliberate inhalation of ragweed pollen. These eeg abnormalities disappeared and a normal pattern ensued concomitantly with the subsidence of ocular and nasal symptoms following the administration of Bena-dryl intravenously or epinephrine subcutaneously. Apparantly the patient had a basic cerebral dysrhythmia resulting in idio-pathic epilepsy with an allergic factor playing an etiologic role in the production of epileptic symptoms as well as those more clearly attributable to nasal allergy to ragweed pollen. Possible relationship of allergy to epilepsy is discussed.