الفهرس يوجد فقط 14 صفحة متاحة للعرض العام
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المستخلص
High exposure to latex gloves and glove powder makes HCWs particularly susceptible to developing latex allergy. Latex allergy is defined as an immune system reaction to natural rubber latex (250-252) and is recognized as a potential occupational health problem because of the increase in frequency and severity of latex induced reactions. Latex allergy received a very little attention in The Egyptian studies, thus, the present study was conducted aiming at detecting the prevalence and types of skin disorders among HCWs using latex gloves in The Alexandria Main University Hospital, and to identify the risk factors that may play a role in developing latex allergy.
To accomplish these aims a cross sectional comparative approach was selected. The target population was 126 HCWs exposed to latex gloves in the Alexandria Main University Hospital. Data was collected through interviewing the HCWs about personal, occupational, medical and family histories with special concern to history of any allergic respiratory and/or dermatologic disorder. A dermatological examination and laboratory investigation for latex specific IgE were performed.
• The present study revealed that the prevalence of latex allergy among HCWs in the Alexandria Main University Hospital was 15.87%.
• All HCWs who suffered from a latex related skin disorders showed eczymatous lesion on both dorsums of hands, other skin manifestations were observed as vesicles (90.0%), erythema (80.0%), crusts (70.0%) and itching marks (50.0%).
• Most of the HCWs with latex related skin disorders were from the Internal Medicine department followed by the Surgery department and ICUs.
• The type of occupation (doctor, nurse, and auxillary staff), duration of employment, frequency of using latex gloves and having an additional job entailing exposure to latex had no influence on the occurrence of skin disorders.
• Using powder, cotton, or disinfectant before donning latex gloves had no significant association with the occurrence of skin disorders.
• Personal history of allergic rhinitis and asthma was significantly associated with latex related skin disorders.
• Family history of allergic skin disorders, rhinitis, asthma, urticaria and hay fever were significantly prevalent among HCWs with latex related skin disorders.
• There was no significant correlation between latex related skin disorders and the occurrence of serum latex specific IgE.
• There was no significant correlation between serum latex specific IgE and personal, family and occupational characteristics of HCWs with skin disorders.
Thus, from this study it could be concluded that there is a high prevalence of latex related skin disorders among HCWs of the Alexandria Main University Hospital, especially those working in the Internal medicine departments. Suffering from allergic rhinitis and asthma raises the HCWs susceptibility to encounter latex related skin disorders. Moreover, having a positive family history of similar allergic disorders, rhinitis, asthma, urticaria and hay fever influences the occurrence of latex related skin disorders