| Document ID (ISN) | 78118 |
| CIS number |
02-329 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
0340-0131 - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health |
| Year |
2001 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Larese Filon F., Bosco A., Fiorito A., Negro C., Barbina P. |
| Title |
Latex symptoms and sensitization in health care workers |
| Bibliographic information |
Apr. 2001, Vol.74, No.3, p.219-223. Illus. 38 ref. |
| Abstract |
This study evaluated the prevalence of latex-related symptoms and sensitisation among 1,165 health care workers in Trieste hospitals by means of a questionnaire, a medical examination, skin prick tests and IgE-specific evaluation. Glove-related symptoms were noticed on 17.2% of the nurses, the majority of symptoms being mild dermatitis with itching and erythema. Symptoms suggestive of IgE-mediated latex allergy were found in 51 subjects; 35 complained of contact urticaria and 16 of asthma and/or rhinitis. The resulting symptoms were significantly related to skin prick tests that were positive to latex (odds ratio (OR) = 11.89), to personal atopy (OR = 2.15), to familiar atopy (OR = 2.12), to skin prick test positivity to related fruit (OR = 2.01) but not to prick test positivity to common inhalant allergens (OR = 1.00). Symptoms increased as a direct function of the time-usage of latex gloves and were more prevalent in operating room staff. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
latex; sensitization; health care personnel; hospitals |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
protective gloves; immunoglobulins; Italy; allergic asthma; dose-response relationship; eczema; questionnaire survey; skin tests; individual susceptibility; dermatitis |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Country / State or Province | Italy |
| Subject(s) |
Commerce, services, offices
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Health care services
|
