[Atopic cough caused by basidiomycetes antigen; the importance as a fungal aeroallergen in occupational environment].

We report here a 28-year-old woman with severe atopic cough in which Basidiomycetes antigen was an etiologic agent. She did not have bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine or heightened bronchomotor tone. Bronchodilator therapy was not effective against her coughing. Her cough worsened in her office, suggesting the existence of some etiologic agents. Basidiomycetes was isolated from her office, and bronchoprovocation test with Basidiomycetes antigen was positive. 19 coworkers and 29 control subjects underwent skin test with Basidiomycetes extract. The rate of positive skin test to Basidiomycetes was significantly greater in coworkers than in control subjects (P=0.0069). These results indicate that a significant number of coworkers are sensitized to Basidiomycetes antigen and suggest that the Basidiomycetes may be an important fungal aeroallergen in occupational environment.