title: Latex sensitization and allergy in children with spina bifida in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The latex allergy is known as a very frequent problem of children with spina bifida (SB). The aim of this prospective study is to determine the frequency of latex sensitization and allergy in Turkish children with SB and to evaluate the related risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled a total of 175 children and collected them in four groups of patients: children with SB, children who had neurosurgical disorders other than SB, atopic children with allergic diseases, and healthy children as control group. All cases were evaluated for latex sensitivity and allergy with skin prick tests and specific IgE. The diagnosis of latex allergy was confirmed with the latex provocation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten children with SB, two children with other neurological disorders, and three atopic children with allergic disease were found "sensitized to latex". Among these sensitized children, only one child with SB had latex allergy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the children with SB and other neurologic disorders and the whole group of patients showed that skin test positivity, the presence of noncentral nervous system (CNS) surgery, and the number of the operations were significant risk factors for latex sensitization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that rates of latex sensitivity and allergy in children with SB in Turkey are significantly lower than published rates in literature. We also found that atopy, the presence of non-CNS operations in children with SB and other neurologic disorder, and total number of operations in the whole group of patients are the most important risk factors for latex sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, 06100, Samanpazari, Ankara, Turkey. gbozkurtmd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Cansin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sackesen
authors.forename: Ersoy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Civelek
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kalayci
authors.forename: Nejat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akalan
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cataltepe
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology