Open AccessPrevalence of latex allergy among clinical laboratory workers of kerala: diagnostic approach by questionnaire survey (QBLH), hematological study and ige screening with ELISA
Author(s) -
T Sági,
José Vicente Bagán Sebastián,
R. Harikumaran Nair
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
asian journal of health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2347-5218
DOI - 10.15419/ajhs.v1i1.413
Subject(s) - medicine , latex allergy , immunoglobulin e , allergy , eosinophil , eosinophilia , immunology , peripheral blood , epidemiology , antibody , asthma
The use of latex glove has increased several folds due to concern about blood borne infections.Latex allergy has become a global epidemic affecting health care workers, industry workers and patients.The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of latex glove allergy among clinical laboratory workers in Kerala, India. The study also aimed to find out easy diagnostic procedures for the assessment of latex glove allergy. Methodology: Epidemiological study by a modified questionnaire based latex hypersensitivity, Haematological studies like Peripheral Blood Smear examination for eosinophilia, Absolute Eosinophil Count and IgE specific antibody assay. Observations: Out of 234 laboratory workers participated in the Questionnaire Based Latex Hypersensitivity study, all responded well to the study, seven shows positivity. The positive seven subjects were included in further studies. The blood samples of them revealed high eosinophilia in peripheral blood smear with high absolute eosinophilic count .IgE antibody shows high value in the five cases. Conclusion: Due to lower exposure to sensitizing latex allergens, there is low prevalence of latex allergy in clinical laboratory workers of Kerala. Questionnaire survey, Peripheral Blood Smear, Absolute Eosinophil Count and IgE antibody assay can be used as a useful tool for diagnosis of latex allergy than using skin prick test with more risk.