[Latex-free hospitals: benefits and disadvantages]

The objective of this article is to inform health-care personnel, especially those of pediatric hospitals (pediatricians, surgeons, anesthetists, etc.), about the incidence of latex allergy in children and the adverse effects that may result if avoidance measures are not taken. The prevalence of this allergy is increasing because of repeated exposure to this ubiquitous material (in medical equipment or household products such as bottle teats or balloons). The risks are allergic reactions, ranging from benign local dermatitis to anaphylactic shock. This problem is well known and progress has been made: there is increased production of latex-free products and screening for latex-related allergy or sensitization during the pre-anesthetic evaluation to take preventive actions when planning surgery. The younger the patient exposed to latex, the higher the risk of sensitization. Therefore, the main issue raised in this article is the potential benefit of moving to latex-free health-care facilities so as to minimize the risk of allergic incidents. Many studies showed a significant decrease in the risk of allergy (sensitization and allergic reaction) when avoiding latex, but we must also consider the feasibility, the cost, and the effectiveness of such a policy.