LATENCY PERIOD BETWEEN EXPOSITION AND SYM PTOMS IN PERSONS WITH AN ALLERGY TO LATEX - SUGGESTIONS ON PREVENTION

Basic problem and objective of study: Among persons working in the hea lth care system allergies caused by natural rubber latex (NRL) are mor e common than among the general population, because the frequent use o f latex gloves and other latex articles may cause sensitisation. A ret rospective study was undertaken to determine the period before such an allergy occurs. Patients and methods: 63 patients (53 women and 10 me n; mean age 31.3 +/- 8.3 years) with symptoms of type I (immediate res ponse; IgE-mediated) allergy to NRL filled in a special questionnaire asking, among other items, about occupational history, duration and fr equency of contact with latex gloves, as well as the course of occupat ional or other symptoms. All but five of the group had been in their j ob for less than 15 years. A prick test with 21 ubiquitous environment al allergens was performed on 62 of the patients. Results: Two thirds of the patients had atopy. First symptoms of an allergy to latex devel oped at an average of 5 years (58.7 +/- 59.3 months) after starting wo rk involving contact with latex products. In 59 persons the first symp toms were contact urticaria, in some together with rhinitis or dyspnea . The interval until onset of symptoms relating to the lower respirato ry tract averaged a further 25.3 +/- 34.6 months. Symptoms developed e arlier in patients with atopy than in those without (51.9 +/- 54.3 vs 76 +/- 69 months). Conclusions: The use of powdered natural rubber lat ex gloves should be discontinued to prevent the increasing incidence o f sensitization to aerogenic latex and to protect those already sensit ized from developing allergic bronchial asthma.