[Latex allergy in a hospital environment: results of a study in Sousse [Tunisia]]

ABSTRACT

Immediate allergy to natural latex has been on the icrease for the last decade in exposed persons and particularly the health personnel. Its prevalence is variable from one study to another. To evaluate the prevalence of later allergy in our nursing staff, we carried out an enquiry in two hospitals in Sousse. It's a prospective study involving 300 subjects and based on an anonymous questionnaire and a cutaneous prick test for latex allergy and atopy. The population was composed of 188 women an 112 men with an average age of 35 years. There were 97 nurses of either sex, 65 doctors, 58 workers, 30 heath technicians, 27 anaesthetists, 17 midwives and 6 pharmacists. Sixty subjects [5.3%] showed a positive prick test ot latex 11 women and 5 men of different professional groups. The prevalence of atopy in this latex positive population [81%] was greater than in the latex negative population [25%]. An associate alimentary allergy was identified in 10 patients allergic to latex. A study of specific immunogloblins to latex carried out in 12 cases was positive in three patients. The provocation test for gloves was positive in 38% of cases