Hypersensitivity to Mains Tap Water in Adults: its Clinical Features and Treatment

Abstract

The clinical features of sensitivity to fluoridated Irish Mains domestic water are described. Symptoms occur in the alimentary, genito-urinary, vascular, central and peripheral nervous systems, and in the skin. Challenge tests have been designed to investigate sensitivity to the mains water antigen in comparison with purified water. Skin challenge and prick tests, buccal and oral tests, induce positive reactions to the mains water. Neutralisation to the water antigen is performed by the serial dilution technique using non-allergenic purified water as the diluent. Neutralisation occurs at a concentration of about 10−3 water antigen. The Raynaud phenomenon serves as a sensitive challenge test to evaluate the efficacy of neutralisation. Persistence of the Raynaud effect is reduced by approximately 50% after successful neutralisation.