Latex allergy in an Australian population of children and adolescents withspinal dysfunction

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of latex allergy in an Australian p opulation of children and adolescents with spinal cord dysfunction and a co mparison population of their siblings without spinal dysfunction. Design and setting: Cross-sectional study of all patients with spinal cord dysfunction attending the single tertiary spinal dysfunction clinic in West ern Australia, and of their siblings closest in age. Subjects: 104 patients with spinal dysfunction born 1978-1996 inclusive, an d 50 siblings. Main outcome measures: Prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratio estimat es of the risk of having a history of latex allergy and of testing latex-sp ecific IgE positive. Results: Of the patients, 15.4% (95% CI, 9.1%-23.8%) had a history of latex allergy compared with none (95% CI, 0-5.8%) of the siblings. Of the 84 pat ients tested, 36.9% (95% CI, 26.6%-48.1%) were latex-specific IgE positive compared with 15.4% (95% CI, 4.4%-35.9%) of the 26 siblings tested. For pat ients, every operation after the first increased the risk of a positive IgE result cumulatively by 41% (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.18-1.68). Conclusions: The prevalence of latex sensitivity and clinical allergy in ch ildren and adolescents with spinal dysfunction in Australia is as high as t hat seen in the United States, and is related to latex exposure during surg ery. The management policy regarding latex exposure for patients with spina l dysfunction requires urgent consideration.