An unusual hazard of menopause in the workplace: a case report.

Untreated vasomotor symptoms of the menopause can have a major impact on women at work. Recent recommendations advocate modification of the working environment, including adequate air-conditioning, to help relieve these symptoms. However, this may cause discomfort for work colleagues. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman with cold urticaria. Cold urticaria is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. Our patient's symptoms were exacerbated when her postmenopausal work colleagues turned the air-conditioner temperature down to relieve their vasomotor symptoms.