Contact urticaria from rubber gloves: an occupational skin disorder for health care workers

Rubber allergy is an important occupational health problem for an increasing number of patients. It may produce a type I urticarial reaction, or more commonly, a type IV delayed eczematous dermatitis. The risk groups include health care workers, rubber industry workers, and children with spina bifida (meningomyelocele) and urogenital abnormalities. In this report, we describe a physician with a relevant history who was found to have type I hypersensitivity to rubber by prick test and use test. Our aim is to increase awareness among physicians, discuss diagnosis and management, and review the literature.