title: Prevalence of latex allergy in spina bifida patients in Singapore.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Latex allergy and its clinical presentation are rising in prevalence across the globe, especially amongst patients with spina bifida (SB). While studies have been well-established in Europe and America, data from Asia are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate the scenario in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  35 subjects with SB, aged 5 to 32 years answered a questionnaire and underwent skin prick test (SPT) using a latex solution, 3 common house dust mites and 3 commonly cross-reacting food allergens (banana, kiwi and avocado). We also noted the relation between latex sensitization with atopy and doctor-diagnosed allergy. The prevalence of cross-reactivity with fruits was also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitization to latex (i.e. a positive SPT) was found in 16 (46%, 95% confidence interval 29%-63%) of the subjects. Only 5 (31%) of the subjects who were sensitized to latex had clinical manifestations. Atopy (i.e. positive SPT to house dust mites) was present in 23 (66%) of the subjects and 13 (57%) of them was also sensitized to latex. There was a positive trend between latex sensitization and atopy (81.2% vs. 52.6%, p = 0.076), as well as latex sensitization with those having both atopy and doctor-diagnosed allergy (i.e. asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, drug allergy) (93.8% vs. 63.2%, p = 0.032). Only 6 (38%) subjects had allergy to the food allergens tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost half of the SB patients in Singapore are sensitized to latex. This number is comparable to that in Europe and America. Positive trend between latex sensitization and those with both atopy and doctor-diagnosed allergy (p = 0.032) is suggestive of a possible cause-effect relationship.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors.forename: Xiuzhen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Javid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Hugo Ps
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van Bever
keywords: Atopy; Cross-reactivity; Fruit allergy; Latex hypersensitivity; Spina bifida