Latex allergy in a high risk group

Recent reports have demonstrated that latex may serve as a potent allergic sensitizer to both patients and healthcare workers. The aim of our study is to investigate type-l latex hypersensitivity in healthcare workers in our hospital. Onehundred health care workers participated in the study (32 surgeons, 12 anesthesiologs, 44 nurses and 12 surgical technicians) and 50 healthy blood donors constituted the control group. Latex allergy history, skin prick test (SPT) and latex specific IgE levels were measured. Eighteen subjects (18 %) had latex allergy history as contact urticaria in 14, rhinoconjunctivitis in 4 subjects. Serologic testing confirmed the suspected diagnosis in 2 % (2 surgeons with allergy history). The SPT reactions were greater than 5 mm in 5 % of subjects (surgeons and 2 nurses with allergy history). Neither SPT nor specific IgE was positive in the subjects without allergy history. In control group, both SPT and speci­ fic IgE were positive in 2 of 50 subjects without any allergy history. It is concluded that, in health care workers, history, SPT and specific IgE determination must be evaluated together for the diagnosis of latex allergy. [Turk J Med Res 1996; 14(3): 114-116]

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