Natural rubber latex allergy in a health-care population in Wales.

Abstract

Type 1 natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy prevalence rates quoted vary due to the different populations studied and methodologies used for assessment and investigation of NRL allergy. To investigate the rate of type 1 allergy to NRL in health-care workers (HCWs) in a single NHS trust in Wales. A response rate of 3716 of 5548 (67%) of the employees was obtained with a latex allergy questionnaire administered by the occupational health departments. Type 1 NRL allergy was diagnosed by correlating clinical symptoms, skin prick testing and IgE RAST to latex in the dermatology department. The period prevalence (1998-2001) for type 1 clinical latex allergy in HCWs was 25 of 4439 (0.56%). Of the 25 positive HCWs, 18 (72%) were nurses. The low prevalence rate of type 1 NRL allergy should not lead to underestimating the importance of clinically significant NRL allergy and the risks that need to be minimized.