Latex allergy and the podiatric surgeon

Latex allergy in recent years has become a more visible problem in the medical community. There are certain populations found to be at greater risk for this problem. Those with myelodysplasia, congenital urinary anomalies, and a history of a significant number of prior surgeries are particularly at risk, followed less commonly by health care workers and the general population. A detailed patient history is the most reliable predictor of latex sensitivity. There are various immunological and serological screening tests on the market, which are not always reliable predictors of allergy or readily available to the physician. This article reviews the current literature on latex allergy and provides insight into populations at risk, the type of allergic response seen, predictors of sensitivity, management of patients with latex allergy, and measures to prevent it.