Immunity and allergy--a report of skin-testing (for allergic diatheses) in Nigeria.

The importance of Allergy in the causation of several important diseases e.g. Asthma, is well known (Voohorst 1962; Voorhorst, Spieska-Beezeman and Spieska 1964-). In this article, the value of finding out the causative allergen by a detailed case-history and later by a skin-testing against the most probable allergens (as suggested by the case-history)--is stressed. The major allergens responsible for the Allergic immunopathies in Nigeria--as found by testing in 50 cases are mentioned. It is hoped that more hospitals will be stimulated to perform skin-testing in view of the encouraging results and responses to de-sensitization so far obtained in different centres practising this procedure.