[Latex allergy]

The incidence of latex allergy has increased in the last decade in particular for medical and health care staff. The "L. Sacco" Hospital in Milan has developed an organisational model for dealing with clinical problems of patients allergic to latex who need to be admitted in hospital. Guidelines have been drawn up to handle the problem of latex allergy in hospital. An Interdisciplinary Working Group has systematically re-examined the epidemiological, etiopathogenetic, clinical diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this important medical problem. This last topic has been particularly developed to facilitate doctors with emergency drugs. Nevertheless the most efficient method against the sensitisation is the elimination and reduction in hospital of the allergens causing the disease.