DISSECTING ROOM PROBLEM - PREVALENCE OF LATEX ALLERGY AMONG MEDICAL-STUDENTS

Latex gloves are in widespread use among preclinical medical and denta l students in the dissecting room. Increasing numbers of cases of seve re latex sensitivity are being reported. This study was carried out to assess the size of this problem among preclinical and clinical studen ts. First-year students (196) and fifth-year students (155) of the Uni ted Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospitals (UM DS) were asked to complete a questionnaire about symptoms related to a llergy to latex gloves and associated risk factors. The prevalence of all self-reported symptoms was 9.6% overall with no significant differ ence between first-and fifth-year students. The prevalence of rash was significantly different: 2.6%, in first-year and 8.5% in fifth-year s tudents. Of those who reported symptoms, there was a significant exces s of females and of individuals with eczema,hay fever, or a family his tory of atopic conditions, compared with those without symptoms. There was no difference between racial groups and no demonstrable link with a history of food allergy, previous surgery, or sensitivity to househ old rubber products. Only 2 of the 29 individuals with symptoms report ed for skin-prick testing, one of whom demonstrated Type I hypersensit ivity. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.