Contact anaphylaxis: A review

The epidemic of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to latex has stimulated interest in contact urticaria and anaphylaxis. A number of agents are known to cause either immunologic or nonimmunologic contact urticaria. Certain substances have occasionally been reported to cause not only skin reactions but even systemic anaphylaxis. This report reviews reported agents that have been recognized as causing such systemic reactions from topical exposure.