Sensitivity and allergy to latex in atopic and non-atopic children

To study the sensitivity and allergy to latex in children, we investigated sera of 306 atopic and 303 non-atopic children (median age 4.5 years) for specific IgE to latex. In patients with specific IgE to latex, a questionnaire was sent to families and provocation tests were carried out. 60/306 atopic children (20.8 %) and 1/303 non-atopic children (0.3 %) showed specific IgE to latex in serum. The proportion of atopic, latex-sensitized and provocation positive children was 12/48 (25 %). Specific IgE to latex was significantly higher (p < 0.03) in symptomatic compared to non-symptomatic patients. Specificity of a positive history was 92 %, sensitivity 50 %. Atopic dermatitis tended to be more prevalent among the 12 provocation positive atopic children (75 %) compared to 36 provocation negative children (58 %). There was a tendency that children of the symptomatic group underwent surgical interventions more frequently compared to non-symptomatic children. In conclusion, latex sensitization and latex allergy seem to have occured more often in atopic children than previously known. Risk factors for the development of a sensitization to latex are atopy and the clinical diagnosis of atopic dermatitis; risk factors for a clinically manifest allergy to latex are an elevated specific IgE to latex, a positive history upon contact to material containing latex and probably frequent operations. Provocation tests should be performed to plan avoidance measures in latex-allergic children especially before surgical interventions.