Prevalence of latex allergy in children and adolescents under 18 years old who ‎treat with hemodialysis in hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences -‎‎2006‎

Introduction and

Ig E –mediated allergy to protein of natural rubber ‎latex is an important global health problem. Because specific immunity status of ‎children and adolescents with renal failure, possible exposure to other cross-‎reactive allergens specially pollen and trees, their exposure to frequent ‎hemodialysis and use of gloves, catheters and other equipment containing latex, ‎this study was aimed to determine prevalence of latex allergy in children and ‎adolescents under 18 years old who treat with hemodialysis in hospitals of Shiraz ‎University of Medical Sciences -2006.‎

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, reaction of 68 ‎participants to scratch skin test (Prick) with standard latex extract, previous ‎history about sensitivity and their demographic characters were analyzed by ‎SPSS.win 11 software with using descriptive and inferential statistic such as ‎proportion test, independent t-test and Chi-square.‎

Finding showed that one of the seven subjects (14.7%) has positive ‎reaction to latex. Proportion test indicated that this prevalence rate was higher ‎than the normal population sensitivity rate (P =0/001).

With respect to results, researchers suggest that the exact history ‎taking and the necessary latex allergy tests must do in this high risk group to ‎prevent damage and possible side effects. Also, for reduce of sensitivity of latex, ‎we recommend that protein component of the gloves, the catheter and other ‎used equipment containing latex has decreased by Chlorination, Autoclaving ‎and use of Proteolytic enzymes or Nonionic surfactants such as Polyethylene ‎glycol ‎‏.‏