ABSTRACT
To assess the incidence of latex allergy in construction workers, we studied all the 230 construction workers who attended our clinic between 1996 and 2000. In the 54 (23.5%) patients who reported any kind of intolerance to rubber gloves or boots, we performed both patch testing with the TRUE Test standard series and a rubber series and prick testing for latex. Latex-specific IgE levels were measured when prick testing was positive. 16 patients (7.0%) had a positive prick test to latex, of whom 14 had allergic contact urticaria from latex (ACUL). All of these 14 patients (6.1%) showed 1 or more positive reactions to the True Test series, which included 1 or more rubber chemicals in 9 of them. The level of specific Ig E to latex was greater than 0.35 kU/L in 15 of the 16 patients. In conclusion, our data suggest that the incidence of latex allergic contact urticaria among construction workers may be as high as that among health care workers. Most of these construction workers with Type I latex hypersensitivity had a concurrent Type IV hypersensitivity to chromate or rubber chemicals, presenting as occupational allergic contact dermatitis, which could have facilitated sensitization to latex.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Occupational/epidemiology , Dermatitis, Occupational/etiology , Facility Design and Construction , Latex Hypersensitivity/epidemiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , Irritants/adverse effects , Latex Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Male , Patch Tests , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
La sensibilidad al látex es un problema bien conocido, y en crecimiento, entre los trabajadores sanitarios. Recientemente, se han descrito problemas relacionados con la exposición al látex en trabajadores de la construcción. En estos casos, existía con anterioridad una dermatitis alérgica de contacto a los componentes de las gomas. Este hecho favorecía el desarrollo de una alergia al látex en estos pacientes. En este trabajo realizamos un estudio de los casos que presentaban sensibilización inmediata al látex y tardía a algún componente de la goma. De 236 pacientes que habían presentado sensibilidad tardía a componentes de las gomas, a 81 se les realizaron pruebas para averiguar la posible sensibilidad inmediata al látex, y se encontró en 17 casos. Se realiza un estudio de las características de estos casos (AU)
