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Prevalence of latex allergy in a dental school
C H Katelaris1, R P Widmer, R M Lazarus
1Department of Immunology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of latex allergy in dental workers.
Design:
Questionnaire survey of staff of a dental school.
Setting:
The Westmead Dental School, a large dental facility in western Sydney.
Participants:
230 staff members of the Westmead Dental School (consisting of general and specialist dentists, chairside assistants and registered nurses, laboratory technicians, dental therapists and hygienists) received questionnaires.
Main Outcome Measures:
The prevalence of latex allergy, defined by prompt onset of hand urticaria with or without generalised symptoms, and the prevalence of hand dermatitis and other glove-related symptoms. Also, the relationship between latex allergy and associated atopic status.
Results:
177 staff (77%) responded by the set collection date; 33% reported symptoms related to wearing gloves and 22% satisfied the criteria for glove dermatitis. Sixteen respondents (9%) reported characteristics suggestive of latex-glove allergy.
Conclusions:
Confirmation of the 9% prevalence of latex allergy among dental workers will require further studies incorporating an objective measure of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity.