REMISSION OF INTRACTABLE ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS BY ACUTE INTERCURRENT INFECTIONS

Abstract

32 allergic children, while under the authors'' observation, showed a temporary remission of allergic symptoms following a viral or bacterial infection. Five children suffered from 2 co-existing manifestations of allergy. In every instance, both allergic processes were altered during the intercurrent infection: clearance and return of symptoms were concomitant. The "anergic" phase usually became apparent at the height of the febrile period, and continued on for from 5 days to 1 yr., the majority lasting a few weeks. Conclusions:[long dash]Acute febrile infections, including measles and more rarely, pneumonia and tonsillitis, can produce an anergic response in an allergic individual. This response is usually temporary. All but one of our patients relapsed after varying period of time. This inhibition of the allergic response does not unfailingly follow such febrile infection. On the contrary, allergic symptoms are frequently aggravated by intercurrent infections. The fever which accompanied the infection was apparently the provocative factor in the remissions. An integration of our cases with some of those previously reported in the literature (which are tabulated), emphasized the validity of this phenomenon. The striking improvement seen suggests that in this phenomenon of interference lies an investigative approach for the treatment of allergic disease.