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Episodic stridor with latex nipple use in a 2-month-old infant
Robert J Freishtat1, Julius G K Goepp
1Department of Pediatrics, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA. rfreisht@cnmc.org
Insights
Latex allergy can affect infants without typical risk factors, presenting as stridor during feeding from latex nipples. This highlights the need for awareness of latex reactions in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Latex allergy is often associated with multiple surgeries in children, particularly for neural tube defects or genitourinary anomalies.
- However, a subset of pediatric patients exhibit latex allergy without these known risk factors.
- Emerging evidence suggests reactions to latex in common household items, even in infants under one year old.
Observation:
- A case study involving a 2-month-old atopic infant is presented.
- The infant experienced recurrent episodes of stridor specifically when exposed to a latex nipple during feeding.
- This reaction was previously unreported in medical literature.
Findings:
- The infant's stridor was directly linked to exposure to the latex nipple.
- This case suggests stridor can be a manifestation of latex allergy in infants.
- The atopic nature of the infant may play a role in hypersensitivity.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider latex allergy as a potential cause of stridor in infants, even in the absence of typical risk factors.
- Increased awareness is needed regarding latex exposure from household products in the pediatric population, especially for infants.
- Further research is warranted to understand the prevalence and mechanisms of latex allergy in young children exposed to everyday latex items.
Abstract:
Latex allergy in the pediatric population is most commonly identified in patients who have undergone multiple operations for neural tube defects or exstrophic genitourinary anomalies. However, there are a significant number of children who, without the usual risk factors, clinically and/or serologically appear to be latex allergic. There is sporadic information in the medical literature regarding reactions to latex allergens in household items, especially in patients younger than 1 year old. Several recent reports even support the existence of reactions to latex pacifiers. We report a case of an atopic 2-month-old infant who experienced the previously unreported reaction of repeated stridor on exposure to a latex nipple while feeding. It is important that clinicians recognize stridor as a potential reaction to latex in infants.