Self-reported skin and respiratory symptoms related to latex exposure among 5,087 hospital employees in Norway.
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.
Holter
Gro
G
Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Service, University of Bergen, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway. gro.holter@helse-bergen.no
Irgens
Agot
A
Nyfors
Allan
A
Aasen
Tor B
TB
Florvaag
Erik
E
Overå
Kari Britt
KB
Elsayed
Said
S
Naerheim
Jakob
J
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