Latex allergy in primary care providers

Background: health care workers represent one of the major risk groups for developing latex allergy. most studies have examined hospital workers. the aims of this study were to analyze the prevalence of latex allergy in primary care providers and to describe the characteristics of health care workers who are allergic to latex. material and methods: a self-administered questionnaire on work activity,history of symptoms,and allergic reactions to latex products was completed by a sample of primary care workers. skin prick tests were performed with a commercial latex extract,and serum specifi c immunoglobulin (ig) e to latex and its main allergens was determined. results: of the 620 workers contacted,341 completed the questionnaire and 170 were tested with latex allergens. the prevalence of latex allergy was 5.9% (95% confi dence interval 2.4%-9.4%). most allergic workers with a previous diagnosis of latex allergy showed negative or lowered specifi c ige levels and a reduced wheal size to latex in comparison with the previous tests. we found 3 cases with elevated latex-specifi c ige due to cross-reactivity with pollen profi lin,although the results were not clinically relevant. allergy to latex was associated with the number of surgical interventions and with allergy to kiwi,banana,chestnuts,and avocado. conclusions: the prevalence of latex allergy in this study was 5.9%. the importance of a firm diagnosis at the onset of symptoms should be stressed,since reducing contact with latex can yield negative test results. assessment of ige reactivity to the individual latex allergens (component-resolved diagnosis) can detect sensitization to panallergens such as profi lin and help to clarify the diagnosis. © 2011 esmon publicidad.