背景:乳胶过敏是主要的健康问题之一,对乳胶的过敏反应可能是严重和致命的。
目的:在本研究中,我们试图确定一组埃及过敏婴儿和儿童的乳胶超敏反应频率及其与患者或护理人员提供的病史的关系.
方法:我们连续纳入400例医生诊断为过敏性疾病的患者。研究测量包括对过敏部位和持续时间的临床评估,乳胶过敏史,家族过敏史,和使用商业乳胶提取物的皮肤点刺测试(SPT)。
结果:研究显示,16/400(4%)患者的SPT阳性;其中11名仅有对乳胶敏感的阳性病史。3.4%(11/326)的支气管哮喘患者报告乳胶SPT阳性,5.9%(7/118)的皮肤过敏患者,4.5%(2/44)的变应性鼻炎患者。合并呼吸道和皮肤过敏的患者中SPT阳性为7.4%(4/54)。乳胶SPT的特异性高于敏感性(97.69%和77.77%,resp.),阴性预测值为99.47%。
结论:尽管未得到充分认可,乳胶是儿科年龄组的重要过敏原,过敏儿童的致敏频率为4%。观察到与同一患者中共存的多种过敏性疾病特别相关。儿科变态反应学家应该对患者进行乳胶过敏教育,并鼓励使用无乳胶产品。
BACKGROUND: Latex allergy is one of the major health concerns and allergic reactions to latex may be serious and fatal.
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we sought to determine the frequency of latex hypersensitivity in a group of allergic Egyptian infants and children and its relation to the history provided by the patients or caregivers.
METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 400 patients with physician diagnosed allergic diseases. The study measurements included clinical evaluation for the site and duration of allergy, history suggestive of latex allergy, family history of allergy, and skin prick testing (SPT) using a commercial latex extract.
RESULTS: The study revealed that 16/400 (4%) patients had positive SPT; 11 of them only had positive history of sensitivity to latex. Positive latex SPT was reported in 3.4% (11/326) of patients with bronchial asthma, 5.9% (7/118) of patients with skin allergy, and 4.5% (2/44) of patients with allergic rhinitis. SPT was positive in 7.4% (4/54) of patients with concomitant respiratory and skin allergy. Latex SPT was more specific than sensitive (97.69% and 77.77%, resp.) with a negative predictive value of 99.47%.
CONCLUSIONS: Although underrecognized, latex is an important allergen in the pediatric age group with a sensitization frequency of 4% among allergic children. It was observed to be especially associated with multiple allergic diseases coexisting in the same patient. Pediatric allergologists should educate their patients on latex allergy and encourage the use of latex-free products.