DEVELOPMENT OF LATEX ALLERGY IN CHILDREN UP TO 5 YEARS OF AGE - A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF RISK-FACTORS

The aim of the study was to investigate possible associations between the time course of early sensitization to latex and various life style factors. Of the 398 children from a prospective birth cohort study, 2 0 (5%) showed specific serum IgE to latex at the age of 5 years. Sensi tization started beyond the first year of life and 19 out of 20 sensit ized children showed increasing specific IgE-values over time. All 20 sensitized children were atopic (p<0.00000). Total IgE was significant ly higher in the sensitized group (median 394.5 kU/l) than in the non- sensitized group (median 39.2 kU/l) (p<0.00001). Comparing the latex-s ensitized group with the nonsensitized children, there were significan tly more operations in the latex group (p<0.05) during the first 5 yea rs of life. Medical history, certain foods, the use of pacifiers, matt ress composition and socio-economic data proved not to be significant risk factors. From our study we conclude that - besides the number of operations and an atopic predisposition - no other definite risk facto r for developing sensitization or allergy to latex (such as everyday h ousehold objects) can be identified in children up to 5 years of age.