title: Self-reported skin and respiratory symptoms related to latex exposure among 5,087 hospital employees in Norway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Latex allergy has become prevalent among health care workers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of self-reported symptoms related to latex exposure among hospital personnel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires addressing symptoms and risk factors for latex allergy were distributed to all employees (n = 5,087) at Haukeland University Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms associated with latex exposure were reported by 23.8% of the participants. Skin symptoms were most frequently reported - flushing/itching/hives: 21.0%, hand eczema: 11.8% - while systemic and respiratory symptoms were reported by 1.4 and 1.2%, respectively. Approximately twice as many women than men reported symptoms (odds ratio 2.55, confidence interval 2.04-3.18). Symptoms were reported by 33.7% of those with atopy and by 20.0% of those without. The occurrence of symptoms increased significantly with the frequency of use of latex gloves but was unrelated to age, years of exposure or number of surgical procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occurrence of self-reported symptoms was associated with the frequent use of latex gloves, atopy and female gender.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Service, University of Bergen, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway. gro.holter@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: Gro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holter
authors.forename: Agot
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irgens
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nyfors
authors.forename: Tor B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Aasen
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Florvaag
authors.forename: Kari Britt
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Overå
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elsayed
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Naerheim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires