Hypersensitivity to Chironomid Chironomus Salinarius (non-biting Midge Living in the Lagoon of Venice) in a Child with Serious Skin and Respiratory Symptoms

We are here describing the case of a ten-year-old child, without any allergyc family antecedent, who presented a growing skin and respiratory symptomatology in contact with swarms of non-biting midges Chironomus Salinarius in the summers 1984-1985-1986. These diptera have been greatly multiplying since the beginning of the summer 1982. The skin tests and the RAST-ELISA with common air-borne allergens resulted negative. On the contrary the prick-test with a suspension of the entire body of the Chironomus Salinarius and the radio-allergo-sorbent-test, specially prepared, resulted strongly positive. We point out that the massive reproduction of these midges, which may provoke allergy, in drainage areas and lagoons is a consequence of man interference on the natural water equilibrium.