Occupational respiratory symptoms caused by decorative flowers are seldom reported in the literature In the years 1985-1993 four such cases of occupational asthma were diagnosed at the Institute of Occupational Health of Finland Occupational asthma was caused by freesias (n = 1), chrysanthemums (n = 1), and tulips (n = 2) The diagnoses were based on work-related respiratory symptoms during flower handling in the patients' histories, specific challenge tests, and allergologic examinations. Flower allergy is rare but can even develop into occupational asthma It usually leads to a change of profession.
Key words Occupational asthma • Flowers Freesia
Chrysanthemum Tulip Alstroemeria tis caused by plants are quite well known l 4, 16 l However, occupational respiratory diseases caused by flowers have been published only rarely, though the first notations on respiratory symptoms caused by flowers date back to the last century l 12 l In the literature we have found about 90 cases with respiratory symptoms caused by 14 different flowers These case reports are listed in Table 1.
Because case reports on asthma or other respiratory symptoms caused by decorative flowers are scarce, the asthma cases caused by flowers diagnosed during the last 8 years at the Institute of Occupational Health are reported here.
Methods