title: Latex glove-related symptoms among health care workers: a self-report questionnaire-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of latex gloves by health care workers (HCWs) can lead to multiple symptoms: eczema, contact urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to reveal the prevalence of latex glove-related symptoms of HCWs at Siriraj Hospital and to determine risk factors associated with those symptoms associated with the use of latex gloves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaires were sent to 6880 HCWs who were working at Siriraj Hospital and using latex rubber gloves in their duty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire response rate was 65.8%. Of 4529 respondents, the male-to-female ratio was 1:8.6 and the mean age was 34.3 years. The majority of respondents were nurses (83%). The prevalence of glove-related symptoms among the HCWs is 13.3%. Glove-related cutaneous and noncutaneous symptoms were found in 11.3% and 5.9% of the respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hospital housekeepers emerged as the job with the significantly higher prevalence rate of glove-related symptoms than that of the other job categories. Factors associated with glove-related cutaneous symptoms are frequency and duration of glove use, history of atopy, and history of allergy to fruit cross-reacting with latex. The quantity of glove use, history of atopy, and allergy to fruits cross-reacting with latex are risk factors for the occurrence of glove-related noncutaneous symptoms.
authors.affiliation: From the Contact Dermatitis Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Waranya
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boonchai
authors.forename: Wararat
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sirikudta
authors.forename: Pacharee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iamtharachai
authors.forename: Pranee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kasemsarn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult