Patients with allergic disease and anti-social behavior: their potential risks to themselves, health care personnel, and other patients.

A series of 7 allergic patients seen by one Allergy Service in a two-year period were identified as being allegedly involved in anti-social activities. They were either seriously ill or mimicked serious illness and by their behavior constituted a potential risk to themselves, other patients or health care personnel. Early identification of such high risk patients protects both patients and health care personnel.