Serious Allergic REactions to Christmas Trees

Filed in archive Skin Allergies on December 22, 2007

Didn't I warn you about allergies to Christmas trees? If you think that sneezing bouts and stuffy nose are all you'll ever suffer from, well, think again. Here's a story of someone who had very serious reactions to a Norwood spruce tree, she had itchy red hives all over her body and had to take cold baths every couple of hours throughout the night to ease the pain.

Mrs Coleman, a divorcee, of Charfield, purchased the tree from the Nailsworth branch of Wyevale on Saturday, December 8 and her GP diagnosed her with a serious allergic reaction to it three days later when she was covered in the rash.

He prescribed her with strong steroid pills and told her to get the tree removed immediately.

Nearly two weeks on, although the rash has eased, she is still suffering with soreness and itchiness on her skin.

Such an extreme reaction is quite rare. I wonder if it's somehow similar to the way people with latex allergies react to poinsettia plant. What a holiday spoiler!