[Latex and banana allergies in children with myelomeningocele in the city of Rio de Janeiro].
OBJECTIVE
Recently, latex type I hypersensibility reactions were frequently described, mainly in children with myelomeningocele (MMC), which maintain earlier intimate and frequent contact with latex products. Allergic food cross-reactions are well known for many years. Nowadays, latex allergy is frequently associated with food allergies to avocado, banana, kiwi, grapefruit, papaya, chestnut and peach.


BACKGROUND
The objective of this study consisted in identifying the number of patients with myelomeningocele (MMC) and banana-latex clinico-laboratorial sensitization.


METHODS
Questionnaires were applied to 33 children with MMC and blood was collected from 30 to perform latex IgE (RAST Pharmacia), and from 29 to banana IgE. Specific IgE equal or above class I was considered positive.


RESULTS
Four children related histories of latex contact urticaria, and one child related a history of urticaria and diarrhea with banana. 14/30 (46.6%) were latex IgE positive, and 4/29 (13.7%) to banana. There was no statistically significant association between variables.


CONCLUSIONS
We identified high prevalence of latex and banana allergies in patients with MMC and we need more studies to analyze the prevalence of food-latex allergic cross-reactions in children with MMC.
Machado
Marta
M
Fundação Técnico-Educacional Souza Marques, Laboratório Sérgio Franco e Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. martam@openlink.com.br
Sant'anna
Clemax
C
Aires
Vera
V
Rodrigues
Pedro Paulo
PP
Pinheiro
Maria Fernanda
MF
Teixeira
Marisa
M
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications*
D007073:Immunoglobulin E