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Evaluation of the need for routine preoperative latex allergy tests in children
Nihat Sapan1, Ergun Nacarkucuk, Yakup Canitez
1Division of Pediatric Allergy, Medical Faculty, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey. nsapan@uludag.edu.tr
Insights
Routine preoperative latex allergy testing in children may not be necessary. While 6.6% showed sensitization, no allergic reactions occurred during operations, suggesting further investigation in larger studies.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Preoperative Medicine
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of latex allergy raises concerns.
- Investigated the frequency of latex allergy in preoperative pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the necessity of routine latex allergy testing in the preoperative period for children.
- To identify risk factors for latex sensitization in pediatric surgical patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 181 children (aged 1-14) undergoing surgery.
- Evaluated latex-specific history, skin prick tests, challenge tests, total IgE, and latex-specific IgE.
- Identified risk factors including history of repeated operations and allergic disease.
Main Results:
- Two children (1.1%) had positive latex skin prick tests; all challenge tests were negative.
- Latex-specific IgE was positive in 6.6% (class II or higher) with no intraoperative allergic reactions.
- History of repeated operations, especially with co-existing allergic disease, was a significant risk factor for latex sensitization.
Conclusions:
- Routine preoperative latex allergy testing appears unnecessary due to the absence of intraoperative reactions, despite detectable sensitization.
- Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to confirm these findings and refine preoperative allergy screening protocols.
Background:
Recently, there was a great increase in allergic reactions to latex and this brought relatively more concern to the latex allergy. In this prospective study we aimed to identify the frequency of latex allergy in preoperative patients, and tried to clarify whether it is necessary to perform latex allergy tests routinely in the preoperative period or not.
Methods:
A total of 188 children, aged 1-14, who were admitted for various operations, were randomly included in this study and of them, 181 completed the study. Latex specific history was taken from all patients. Latex skin prick tests, challenge tests with latex gloves, total IgE and latex specific IgE measurements were performed.
Results:
Of 181 children, two (1.1%) had positive latex skin prick tests. Latex challenge tests were negative in all children. Latex specific IgE was positive in 12 children (6.6%) as class II or higher, but no patient had allergic reactions in operations. History of repeated operations was a risk factor for latex sensitization. The risk was higher in the presence of both history of repeated operations and history of allergic disease. However, the risk was not higher in patients with the history of only allergic disease, compared to ones who had a history of neither repeated operations nor allergic disease.
Conclusion:
We conclude that routine preoperative latex allergy tests seem to be not necessary because of no allergic reactions during operation in spite of the sensitization of 6.6% detected by latex specific IgE. However, this should be investigated in larger studies.