GLOVE-RELATED RHINOPATHY AMONG HOSPITAL PERSONNEL

Hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex (NRL) in health care personne l exposed to powdered Inter gloves appears as conjunctivitis, rhinitis , nasal congestion, cough, dyspnea, or bronchial asthma in approximate ly 30% of all cases with latex allergy while most of the patients have contact urticaria. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of latex-induced allergic rhinitis in health care worke rs using NRL gloves on a daily basis. Clinical examination accompanied by skin prick test (SPT) with latex glove extracts and common aeroall ergens, measurements of specific IgE to NRL, and lung function tests w ere peformed in 25 symptomatic workers and II latex-exposed asymptomat ic controls. Sensitization to NRL was detected using SPT in one (4%) o f 25 symptomatic workers but not in any of the asymptomatic controls. Positive SPT to aeroallergens was demonstrated in 8/25 symptomatic wor kers and 6/11 controls. Measurements of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in I sec, and bronchial methacholine challenge did n ot show any significant differences between the study groups. In concl usion, NRL-aeroallergen-induced occupational rhinitis may occur among physicians and nurses who have a frequent use of latex gloves on a dai ly basis at hospital work. However, a relatively low prevalence of NRL -induced occupational rhinitis is associated with profuse consumption of no-powder sterile gloves. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.