How Common Is Latex Allergy?
The prevalence of latex allergy has been studied by several methods: • Questionnaires to assess reactions to latex gloves • Medical histories of reactions to latex-containing products • Skin tests • Tests for latex antibodies in a worker’s blood Reports about the prevalence of latex allergy vary greatly. This variation is probably due to different levels of exposure and methods for estimating latex sensitization or allergy. Recent reports in the scientific literature indicate that from about 1% to 6% of the general population and about 8% to 12% of regularly exposed health care workers are sensitized to latex [Kelly et al. 1996; Katelaris et al. 1996; Liss et al. 1997; Ownby et al. 1996; Sussman and Beezhold 1995]. Among sensitized workers, a variable proportion have symptoms or signs of latex allergy. For example, one study of exposed hospital workers found that 54% of those sensitized had latex asthma, with an overall prevalence of latex asthma of 2.5% [Vandenplas et al. 1995]. Preva
