Occupationally induced latex allergy. Enduring developments in professional and private life

Avoiding powdered latex gloves is generally accepted as being an important way for health service employees to avoid latexlinked allergies affecting the skin and respiratory tract. A questionnaire study was performed to test whether this preventive measure would also be adequate to prevent symptoms in employees with an existing allergy. Using a standardised questionnaire, 329 health service employees with occupational latex allergy were asked about their quality of life, periods without contact with allergens and symptoms related to allergens. At the time when the questionnaire was administered the symptoms were declining markedly. Powdered latex gloves were avoided by all subjects. Seventy-seven per cent of subjects with skin allergy and 68% of subjects with respiratory tract allergy had no allergic symptoms. We conclude therefore that avoiding latex gloves is also an effective preventive measure for insured subjects with existing latex allergy.