RECURRENT ANAPHYLAXIS DUE TO UNRECOGNIZED LATEX HYPERSENSITIVITY IN 2HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS

Background: Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal immediate-type reaction and intense effort may be required to identify the allergen responsib le. In some cases, a ''hidden'' allergen may be responsible that is no t apparent in spite of careful clinical assessment. Objectives: This r eport describes the assessment of two cases of anaphylaxis in which a search for an allergen was initially not conclusive and the diagnosis of idiopathic anaphylaxis was considered. Methods: Two patients were e valuated by various physicians for anaphylaxis with no clear indicatio n of a responsible allergen. Persistence in evaluation led to the iden tification of the allergen responsible. Results: In two health care wo rkers latex was identified as the ''hidden'' cause of anaphylaxis. Thi s allergen had not been considered in either case in initial evaluatio ns. Neither patient has had a recurrence of anaphylaxis since latex wa s identified as the cause of anaphylaxis. Conclusions: Although latex is widely recognized as a cause of anaphylaxis, it can still be unreco gnized in some cases of recurrent anaphylaxis. Latex must be considere d as a ''hidden'' cause of anaphylaxis, particularly in health care wo rkers.