We describe 14 consecutive patients with complaints due to the handlin
g of flowers. The symptoms varied from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis an
d asthma to urticaria. Most patients had professions in the flower ind
ustry. Skin prick tests (SPT) were performed with home-made pollen ext
racts from 17 different flowers known to be the most commonly grown an
d sold in The Netherlands. RAST against mugwort, chrysanthemum, and so
lidago was performed. The diagnosis of atopy against flowers was based
on work-related symptoms due to the handling of flowers, positive SPT
with newer extracts, and positive RAST. The concordance between SPT a
nd case history was 74%, and that between SPT and RAST was 77% Extensi
ve cross-sensitization was seen to pollen of several members of the Co
mpositae family (e.g., Matricaria, chrysanthemum, solidago) and to pol
len of the Amaryllidaceae family (Alstroemeria and Narcissus). Homemad
e flower extracts can be used to confirm IgE-mediated flower allergy.
Mugwort can be used as a screening test for possible flower allergy. F
or most patients, the allergy led to a change of profession.