Allergic reactions to latex can be serious and very rarely fatal. Latex allergy has been increasing in recent years and causes many health problems. Therefore, it is recognized as an international health problem. Some occupational groups or individuals are in risky groups for latex allergy. In this article, we have told you about these occupational groups.
Compared to data published at the beginning of the 21st century, the current prevalence of latex allergy is 9.7% in healthcare workers, 7.2% in susceptible patients, and 4.3% in the general population, and its prevalence in the general population appears to be increasing.
Because of the millions of latex and latex-containing products, there are many ways to be exposed to latex. It is therefore not surprising that around 4% of the general population worldwide have a latex allergy. To reduce latex allergy, avoiding contact with latex-containing products and reducing the prevalence of latex allergy may be more difficult than we expected.
With the emergence of latex allergy among healthcare workers in the late 1980s and 1990s, large numbers of people affected by latex were identified in some patients and the general population. More latex exposure can be seen, especially in some jobs.
We Can List Risky Groups for Latex Allergy as follows
- Occupational exposure to latex:
Healthcare workers, rubber factory workers, construction workers, cleaners, food workers, gardeners, painters, hairdressers, toy makers, restaurants, bakers, biology and chemistry lab workers…
- Exposure to multiple surgical interventions:
Patients with spina bifida, Dandy-walker cysts, patients with congenital genitourinary anomalies, cesarean delivery, bladder exstrophy…
- Frequent contact with latex products:
Dental interventions, frequent urinary catheterization, diabetic patients using insulin…
- Atopic people with hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or other allergies such as allergies to certain foods; Asthma, eczema, fruit allergy constitute a risky group for latex allergy.
Latex allergy is increasing day by day, because as the number of products containing latex increases in our daily life, we are more likely to encounter it.
Latex allergy affects not only workplaces such as healthcare and workplaces where latex gloves are frequently used, but also the general population, even if we are not occupationally exposed to latex products. Therefore, latex allergy is increasing day by day as a serious problem.
