Abstract

HERNANDEZ MANTILLA, NATALIA; SOLIAS VILLALTA, YUANET  and  CONDE SALAZAR, LUIS. PREVALENCE OF LATEX ALLERGY IN 2005 AMONG WORKERS OF THE HOSPITAL MILITAR IN BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA. rev.fac.med [online]. 2007, vol.15, n.1, pp.54-60. ISSN 0121-5256.

Latex allergy is a medical problem that increases every day and is increasingly affecting more patients. From the occupational health point of view, more than half of the reported cases correspond to health care professionals. Since there is no statistics reported in Colombia or Latin America we consider important to study the frequency of this condition. The researchers designed an investigation protocol approved by Ethical Committee. The researchers interviewed 808 patients, and 205 randomized patients had done by Prick Test with latex's allergen. The prick test was positive in 1,5% of healthy workers, 1,6% surgical techs, 2,8% scrub nurses and 4,8% surgical scrub techs. All of the patients with positive prick test developed symptoms with the use of gloves, particularly xerodermia. This is probably one of the first of different studies related to allergies that has been done in our country to prevent complications related to the exposure of latex

Keywords : latex allergy; healthy workers.

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