[Extrinsic allergy in obstructive respiratory disease in childhood and adolescence (author's transl)].

The incidence of extrinsic allergy was studied in 1,246 children and adolescents with recurrent unspecific respiratory and allergic complaints. Special attention was paid to obstructive respiratory diseases, such as bronchial asthma and obstructive of asthmatic bronchitis. Skin tests and the radio-allergo-sorbent test (RAST) showed sensitization in 77% of the cases. Challenge tests and a detailed personal history, however, revealed clinically active sensitization in only 62%. The clinical and practical significance of the findings is discussed.