Occupational asthma caused by aromatic herbs

We describe a subject with occupational asthma caused by several aromatic herbs : thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and garlic. The diagnosis was confirmed by specific inhalation challenges in the laboratory. Although immediate skin reactivity was demonstrated to the herbs the subject reacted to by inhalation, RAST showed that garlic was the most potent allergen by weight, the other herbs showing less reactivity. These aromatic herbs, bay leaf, thyme, and rosemary, should be included among agents causing occupational asthma in the food industry.