OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA DUE TO LATEX IN HEALTH-CARE WORKERS

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions ranging from mild urticaria to li fe threatening anaphylaxis after exposure to natural rubber latex have been reported frequently in health care workers while occupational as thma due to latex exposure is less well studied. The results of specif ic challenge tests and immunological tests in four health care workers with work related respiratory and skin disorders induced by the use o f latex gloves are described. Occupational asthma was confirmed in thr ee subjects by specific challenge tests. All had a positive skin test reaction to the latex extract; specific IgE antibodies were detected i n only one subject; The fourth subject had a negative specific inhalat ion and skin test reaction to the latex extract. Peak expiratory flow monitoring at work and away from work showed a pattern consistent with work related asthma. These findings confirm that latex is a cause of occupational asthma in health care workers.