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Latex allergy in an Australian population of children and adolescents with spinal dysfunction
Author(s) -
Valentine Jane P,
Kurinczuk Jennifer J,
Loh Richard K S,
Chauvel Peter J
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1999.tb126857.x
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , latex allergy , allergy , population , pediatrics , cross sectional study , spinal cord , family history , immunology , pathology , psychiatry , environmental health
Objectives To determine the prevalence of latex allergy in an Australian population of children and adolescents with spinal cord dysfunction and a comparison population of their siblings without spinal dysfunction. Design and setting Cross‐sectional study of all patients with spinal cord dysfunction attending the single tertiary spinal dysfunction clinic in Western Australia, and of their siblings closest in age. Subjects 104 patients with spinal dysfunction born 1978‐1996 inclusive, and 50 siblings. Main outcome measures Prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratio estimates of the risk of having a history of latex allergy and of testing latex‐specific lgE positive. Results Of the patients, 15.4% (95% Cl, 9.1%‐23.8%) had a history of latex allergy compared with none (95% Cl, D‐5.8%) of the siblings. Of the 84 patients tested, 36.9% (95% Cl, 26.6%‐48.1%) were latex‐specific lgE positive compared with 15.4% (95% Cl, 4.4%‐35.9%) of the 26 siblings tested. For patients, every operation after the first increased the risk of a positive lgE result cumulatively by 41% (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% Cl, 1.18‐1.68). Conclusions The prevalence of latex sensitivity and clinical allergy in children and adolescents with spinal dysfunction in Australia is as high as that seen in the United States, and is related to latex exposure during surgery. The management policy regarding latex exposure for patients with spinal dysfunction requires urgent consideration.