ASTHMA DUE TO AFRICAN ZEBRAWOOD (MICROBERLINIA) DUST

Abstract
Inhalation of wood dusts can cause immediate and late onset asthma. The list of woods responsible for such reactions is continually increasing. A patient is reported with asthma induced by exposure to the dust of African zebrawood (genus Microberlinia). Sensitivity to this dust was confirmed by immediate skin-test reactivity, a positive bronchial challenge and a positive radioallergosorbent test to an aqueous extract. The bronchial response was inhibited by sodium cromoglycate. Unexposed persons did not exhibit skin or bronchial reactivity.