[Prevalence of latex-fruit syndrome in health workers with latex allergy]. / Prevalencia del síndrome de látex-fruta en trabajadores de la salud con alergia al látex.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of latex allergy in the general population is lesser than 1%. These patients have clinical and immunochemical cross-reactivity between latex and fruits; sometimes this has been referred to as the "latex-fruit-syndrome" (LFS); atopy was found to be a risk factor to sensitization to fruits. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of LFS, in a group of health care workers with latex-allergy. METHODS: Hospital employees were initially screened for latex allergy with a questionnaire; these patients were divided into the following two groups 1) health care workers with latex-allergy, classified into two subgroups a) with a familial history of atopy; b) without a familial history of atopy, and 2) health care workers with familial history of atopy but without latex-allergy. Skin prick tests with latex and fruits extracts (kiwi, avocado, banana and chestnut) were done. RESULTS: Based in clinical history and with confirmation by skin testing, three patients of the health care workers' group with latex allergy have LFS (prevalence of 12.5%). Sensitivity and specificity for skin prick test in health care workers with latex-fruit syndrome were latex, kiwi and chestnut sensitivity 100%; latex and avocado specificity 90%; chestnut and kiwi specificity 100%. CONCLUSION: A low prevalence of latex-fruit syndrome was detected in our population. We found a higher prevalence in females with a history of atopy. Our findings were consistent with other literature reports.