Latex and fruit allergy in health care workers
Keywords:
latex hypersensibility, cross-reactivity, health occupationsAbstract
Introduction
Latex allergy is becoming an increasing risk to exposed individuals, such as the health care workers, and the simultaneous allergy to different types of food, particularly fruits is an aggravating circumstance.
Objective
To estimate the occurrence of hypersensitivity to both fruits and latex among health care workers.
Methods
Fifth-three health care workers, 81.9% of whom women, were studied by means of a specific questionnaire and through puncture cutaneous tests using allergens of latex and fruits (papaya, kiwi, avocado, banana, fig, tomato, nuts) as well as some potential inhalatory allergens.
Results
Of the 53 subjects studied, 15 (28.5%) were allergic to the latex. Hypersensitivity to fruits was diagnosed in 14 (26.4%) individuals, 10 of whom (18.8%) presented a latex positive cutaneous test; papaya (80.0%), kiwi (60.0%) and avocado (50.0%) were the most frequent allergenic fruits.
Conclusion
The present findings indicate a relatively high (18.8%) occurrence of latex-fruit allergy, as already described in the literature. It is important to detect such a condition in health care workers, since they are a potential group at risk.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Flávia Andréia MARIN, Suely Prieto de Barros Almeida PERES, Maria do Carmo VENTURINI, Rosane C. Melchiori FRANCISCO, Antônio ZULIANI
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