HEALTH-CARE-INDUSTRY

THE HISTORY AND DIAGNOSIS OF LATEX ALLERGY

The history and diagnosis of latex allergy were discussed. Most early reports of latex allergy described contact dermatitis, which was usually localized to the hands after the use of rubber gloves. Since 1988 more than 1,100 reports describing allergic or anaphylactic reactions experienced by patients or health care workers associated with latex containing medical devices have been received by the Food and Drug Administration. Possible reasons for the increases in reported cases of latex allergy include physicians becoming more familiar with the clinical characteristics of latex allergy, the increasing use of latex products as a means of protecting against exposure to infectious agents, and changes in manufacturing processes that may have increased the amounts of protein antigens in gloves and other latex products. The groups with the highest risk for latex allergy include health care workers and children with spina bifida. Diagnosing latex allergy was discussed.

Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America 15(1):21-29, 1995. (51 references)

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