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Prevalence and risk factors of latex sensitization in an unselected pediatric population

R Bernardini1, E Novembre, A Ingargiola

  • 1A. Meyer Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Italy.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|May 26, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Latex sensitization is rare in children, with only 0.7% showing positive skin tests and no allergic reactions. Risk factors include allergies to other substances and older age.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases

Background:

  • Systematic surveys of latex sensitization in the general population are lacking.
  • Previous research focused on high-risk groups, leaving a gap in understanding prevalence in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of latex sensitization in a general pediatric population.
  • To identify risk factors associated with latex sensitization in children.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 1175 children aged 105 +/- 17.5 months from 11 elementary schools in Tuscany, Italy.
  • Children underwent skin prick tests (SPTs) for latex, aeroallergens, food allergens, and insect venoms after parental questionnaires.
  • Data analysis focused on identifying significant risk factors for latex sensitization.

Main Results:

  • A low prevalence of latex sensitization was found, with 0.7% (8 subjects) having positive SPT responses to latex.
  • No children exhibited clinical allergic reactions to latex.
  • Significant risk factors for latex sensitization included positive SPT responses to aeroallergens, food allergens, insect venoms, and increased age.

Conclusions:

  • Latex sensitization is very uncommon in the general pediatric population, with no associated clinical symptoms observed.
  • A significant association exists between latex sensitization and positive SPT responses to other allergens (aeroallergens, food allergens, insect venoms) and older age.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering co-sensitization patterns in pediatric allergy evaluations.
Abstract

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