| Abstract | Health care workers (HCW) have been shown to be at significant risk for developing latex allergy. Natural rubber latex hypersensitivity has been reported in 2.9 to 17% of health care workers in previously published studies. This study describes the prevalence of latex hypersensitivity in a large cohort of medical center employees. A screening questionnaire was distributed to 1967 employees in six job categories exposed to latex, and 1331 questionnaires were returned (68%) between March and November 1995. Skin and serologic testing was performed on 156 volunteers. Of the 1331 HCWs who completed the screening questionnaire, 290 (21.8%) self-reported contact dermatitis to latex, 67 (5.0%) self-reported urticaria to latex, 163 (12.2%) self-reported rhinoconjunctivitis to latex, and 17 (1.3%) self-reported asthmatic symptoms to latex. Of the total population of 1967 employees, 38 (1.9%) were either skin test or blood test positive and 30 (1.5%) of these 38 were symptomatic around latex. This study suggests a minimum prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to latex of 1.5% among medical center employees. Our reported prevalence figures are lower than previously reported, reflecting, in part, reporting methods using a denominator more consistent with the total population at risk. Our study also illustrates the pitfall of relying on self-reporting in making the diagnosis of latex allergy. |
| Authors | K T Kim, E K Wellmeyer, K V Miller
(Affiliation: Allergy, Asthma, and Respiratory Care Center, Inc., Long Beach, California, USA.)
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| Journal | Allergy and asthma proceedings : the official journal of regional and state allergy societies
(Allergy Asthma Proc)
1999 Nov-Dec
Vol. 20
Issue 6
Pg. 387-91
ISSN: 1088-5412 UNITED STATES |
| PMID | 10624496
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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| Chemical References |
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| Topics |
- Cohort Studies
- Health Personnel
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin E
(blood)
- Latex
(immunology)
- Latex Hypersensitivity
(epidemiology)
- Occupational Diseases
(epidemiology)
- Prevalence
- Questionnaires
- Skin Tests
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