Latex allergy: Contemporary aspects

Allergic changes provoked by latex develop on the previously sensitized area and after contact with latex allergens or additives used in processing of India rubber as well as well as in production of rubber products. Over- sensibility to latex is most common with patients with spina bifida as well as with congenital genitourinary abnormalities (18-73%), health-recare workers (3-17%), rubber industry workers (11%), and also with the patients who often undergo surgical interventions (6,5%). Most frequently there is sensitization to medical gloves, catheter, tubuses, dental instruments, rubber toys (balloons, soother, dolls), etc. Sensitization and clinical manifestation of latex allergy is caused by latex proteins: hevein, rubber elongation factor (REF), which provoke the anaphylactic type sensitization, and the chemical additives which provoke the late sensitivity mechanism. Clinical latex allergy manifests as: bronchial asthma (asthma bronchiole), rhinitis (rhinitis), urticaria (urticaria) and angioedema, conjunctivitis, anaphylactic reaction, contact allergic dermatitis and stomatitis. The diagnosis of latex allergy can be determined on the basis of well-done personal and professional anamnesis, objective results of an examination, prick tests performed on latex, patch test on additives as well as by determination of specific imunnoglobulines E to latex. Treatment of latex allergy is symptomatic in accordance with the existing clinical manifestation. The most important is to stop the exposure or to use special styrene gloves ('elastyrene') which do not provoke the over-sensitization of the late type. In prevention of latex allergy it is very important to do allergy test in process of determination of profession and the workplace, especially for the workplaces with high occupational risk (health-care workers, rubber industry workers).