Allergies and skin reactions related to gloves

Type I allergy: Epidemiology

The prevalence of allergies to natural rubber latex proteins varies in terms of the population studied, the methodology and the diagnostic methods used.
■ In the overall population: less than 1% - see Table 1a
■ Among hospital personnel: up to 17% - see Table 1b
■ In subjects at risks - see Table 1c
  • Atopic subjects (eczema, rhinitis, asthma): up to 36% in exposed atopic subjects. 2/3 of subjects allergic to latex are atopic
  • Spina bifida: 24 to 60%
  • The number of surgical procedures on the child increases the risk of allergy by at least 6%.

Table 1a

Type I allergy: prevalence in the overall population
Author (year)PopulationPopulationMethod used % positive
Turjanmaa (1987)130Allergological consultation Scratch chamber test0.8%
Moneret-Vautrin (1993)569Allergological consultationSPT (Stallergènes)0.4%
Ownby (1994)1000Blood donorsIgE (ALAstat)6%
Reinheimer (1995)200Consecutive patients. Serum forwarded to the laboratory for IgE assay*IgE (ALAstat)12%
Turjanmaa (1995)4708SPT (SP)0.85%
Porri (1997)258Patients consulting a health centre for a check-up
  • SPT (latex)
  • IgE (CAP Pharmacia)
6.6%
Lebenbom-Mansour (1997)996Ambulatory surgery IgE (ALAstat)6.7%
Senna (1999)1025Blood donorsIgE (CAP Pharmacia)3.5%
Garabrant (2001)5156NHANES III database*IgE (ALAstat)18.3%

Table 1b

Type I allergy: prevalence among caregivers
Author (year)NCountryPopulationMethod used% positive
Konrad (1997)101SwitzerlandAnaesthetistsSPT (gloves) / IgE (RAST)15.8%
De Groot(1998)98The NetherlandsLaboratory personnelSPT (gloves) / IgE (RAST)SPT: 8.3%RAST: 5%
Lai (1997)1021TaiwanHospital personnelQuestionnaire / clinical6.9%
Kibby (1997)135USAHospital personnelQuestionnaire / SPT (gloves and standardized extracts)8.2%
Douglas (1997)142Australia - New ZealandIDESPT (gloves)22%
Liss (1997)1326CanadaHospital personnel regular users of latex glovesQuestion. / SPT (gloves and standardized extracts)12.1%
Handfield Jones (1998)867Great Britain Hospital personnelQuestionnaire (857 respondents)/SPT(non-standardized) / IgE (RAST)0.9%
Mace (1998)247CanadaIBODESPT (latex)6.88%
Vila (1999)301SpainVolunteer personnelIgE (CAP Pharmacia) / SPT (SP)5%
Kaczmarek (1999)504USAHospital staff. 76.5% testedIgE (CAP Pharmacia)5.5%
Page (2000)USAPersonnel using glovesIgE (SP)6.1%
Larese-Filon (2001)1165ItalyHospital personnel Questionnaire/ SPT (SP) / IgE (SP)17.2%
Garabrant (2001)174USAHospital personnel IgE (ALAstat)21.2%
Nettis (2002)295ItalySymptomatic personnel testedSPT (gloves and standardized extracts) / IgE (RAST)9.1%

Table 1c

Type I allergy: prevalence in subjects at risk

Author (year)PopulationPopulationMethod used% sensitized or allergic to latex
Laurent (1992)Atopic women111SPT15%
Shield (1992)Atopic / Non-atopic44 / 36SPT (gloves)6.8% / 0%
Moneret-Vautrin (1993)
  • Exposed atopic subjects
  • Non-exposed atopic subjects
  • Exposed non-atopic subjects
  • Non-exposed non-atopic subjects
  • 44
  • 180
  • 73
  • 272
  • Questionnaire
  • SPT (Stallergènes)
  • SPT (Gammex gloves)
  • IgE (RAST)
  • 36.6%
  • 9.44%
  • 6.85%
  • 0.37%
Liebke (1996)Atopic / Non-atopic subjects306 / 127IgE (SP)20.8% / 0.3%
November (1997)Atopic / Non-atopic subjects326 / 127SPT (latex)3% / 0%
Chen (1997)Spina bifida (SB) 0 to 1 procedure
  • 2 to 4
  • 5 to 7
  • 8 or more
140IgE (RAST)
  • 36%
  • 50%
  • 80%
Niggeman (1998)
  • Atopic subjects - SB
  • Non-atopic subjects– SB
  • 72
  • 87
  • SPT (Stallergènes) and IgE
  • (RAST)
  • 70.8%
  • 43%
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