title: Low prevalence of latex sensitivity in South African spina bifida children in Cape Town.
abstract: Spina bifida children have a high prevalence of latex allergy in studies reported from Europe and the USA. This study investigated the prevalence of latex allergy in a cohort of 24 spina bifida children at the Red Cross Children's Hospital from Cape Town, South Africa. The children were investigated using a detailed questionnaire, skin prick tests (ALK-Abello), ImmunoCap RASTs, Western blotting and ELISA, using the purified latex proteins Hev b1 and Hev b3 and whole latex preparation. A low overall prevalence of latex sensitization of 16.7% was found in the children. Children who were sensitive reacted to water insoluble to Hev b1 and Hev b3 proteins. The low prevalence of latex sensitization in the South African children may not be entirely explained by stringent latex avoidance. The children were from a low socioeconomic social status and 'hygiene' and other factors should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Asmah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johar
authors.forename: Dawn L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Siti Arija Mad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hawarden
authors.forename: George Du
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Toit
authors.forename: Eugene G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Cas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Motala
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fieggen
authors.forename: Hoong Yeet
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yeang
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Potter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests; D013019:South Africa; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000276:immunology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins; C061477:REF protein, Hevea brasiliensis