Latex allergy as an occupational risk
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Date
1999
Department
Nursing
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Abstract
Latex allergy has become one of the buzzwords in healthcare in this final decade of
this century. Occupational exposure to latex products coupled with the remaining risk
factors of atopy, food allergy, neural defects and surgery, often place the healthcare
worker at great jeopardy. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence
of latex sensitivity in a mid-Atlantic medical center. Using a cross-sectional design
and an original questionnaire, a sample population of the employees of the medical
center were surveyed to determine prevalence as well as factors placing the
employees at risk. Significant findings included correlation between atopy and
symptoms of latex sensitivity and between food allergy and symptoms of latex
sensitivity. Approximately 90% of the employees sampled at this rural medical center
possess at least one of the risk factors determined to be causative in the development
of latex sensitivity. Of those identified as being at risk, only 3.2% reported a
physician diagnosed latex allergy. However, 25.1% of the sample reported symptoms
when handling latex products. Clearly, symptoms of latex sensitivity are found within
this employee population which merits further investigation. Further study including
biophysiological measures for those reporting latex allergy symptoms would be
important to determine IgE mediated allergic response.