title: Development of latex allergy in children up to 5 years of age--a retrospective analysis of risk factors.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate possible associations between the time course of early sensitization to latex and various life style factors. Of the 398 children from a prospective birth cohort study, 20 (5%) showed specific serum IgE to latex at the age of 5 years. Sensitization started beyond the first year of life and 19 out of 20 sensitized children showed increasing specific IgE-values over time. All 20 sensitized children were atopic (p < 0.00000). Total IgE was significantly higher in the sensitized group (median 394.5 kU/I) than in the non-sensitized group (median 39.2 kU/l) (p < 0.00001). Comparing the latex-sensitized group with the non-sensitized children, there were significantly more operations in the latex group (p < 0.05) during the first 5 years of life. Medical history, certain foods, the use of pacifiers, mattress composition and socio-economic data proved not to be significant risk factors. From our study we conclude that besides the number of operations and an atopic predisposition--no other definite risk factor for developing sensitization or allergy to latex (such as everyday household objects) can be identified in children up to 5 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pediatrics Virchow Clinic of Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Niggemann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulig
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wahn
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007840:Latex / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D007073:Immunoglobulin E