SENSITIVITY AND ALLERGY TO LATEX IN ATOPIC AND NONATOPIC CHILDREN

To study the sensitivity and allergy to latex in children, we investig ated sera of 306 atopic and 303 non-atopic children (median age 4.5 ye ars) for specific IgE to latex. In patients with specific IgE to latex , a questionnaire was sent to families and provocation tests were carr ied out. 60/306 atopic children (20.8 %) and 1/303 non-atopic children (0.3 %) showed specific IgE to latex in serum. The proportion of atop ic, latex-sensitized and provocation positive children was 12/48 (25 % ). Specific IgE to latex was significantly higher (p < 0.03) in sympto matic compared to non-symptomatic patients. Specificity of a positive history was 92 %, sensitivity 50 %. Atopic dermatitis tended to be mor e prevalent among the 12 provocation positive atopic children (75 %) c ompared to 36 provocation negative children (58 %). There was a tenden cy that children of the symptomatic group underwent surgical intervent ions more frequently compared to non-symptomatic children. In conclusi on, latex sensitization and latex allergy seem to have occured more of ten in atopic children than previously known. Risk factors for the dev elopment of a sensitization to latex are atopy and the clinical diagno sis of atopic dermatitis; risk factors for a clinically manifest aller gy to latex are an elevated specific IgE to latex, a positive history upon contact to material containing latex and probably frequent operat ions. Provocation tests should be performed to plan avoidance measures in latex-allergic children especially before surgical interventions.