Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent epithelial tumor of the skin, characterized by a local infiltrative growth in contrast to

Latex allergy is a common occupational disease among healthcare workers who use latex gloves. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of allergy to latex gloves among dental students and the role of exposure duration in latex allergy. In this prospective study, a total of 240 students completed a self-administered questionnaire aiming at providing information about glove, working habits, signs and symptoms related to glove use, precautions taken to minimize it, etc. The challenge and patch tests were performed through latex gloves, and skin prick test with commercial extracts. The questionnaire items and diagnostic tests revealed that one-fourth of subjects were suspicious for latex gloves hypersensitivity. Their mean value for skin reactions like contact urticaria, irritant or allergic dermatitis was between 10% and 14%, while for non-cutaneous symptoms the mean value was under 5%. The average latex exposure (in hours) is estimated to be about 214±71 (SE), with a maximum of 11500 hours. The correlation between studied variables and the time exposure to latex gloves revealed weak to moderate relations with respect to reported latex allergy, eczematous reactions, hand erythema after glove wearing, irritant reactions during wash/washout procedures, concentration oscillations during usage of latex gloves, or dyspnea attack during latex exposure. Due to the relationship between allergic reactions to latex gloves and some medical histories during school practice, it seems to be necessary to undergo pre-matriculation evaluation and periodic health surveillance of dental students. 2017 Vol.4, No.3, pp.45-49 ISSN(e): 2313-2752 ISSN(p): 2313-7746 DOI: 10.18488/journal.9.2017.43.45.49 © 2017 Contribution/Originality: AB designed the questionnaire, assisted students to complete them, conducted diagnostic tests and collected the data; DK and SS coordinated and helped with the study design and conduction; DM assisted on students' enrollment in the study and helped with the study design from the stomatological perspective; EP assisted on statistical analysis of the data; ÇM coordinated the students' enrollment in the study; AR assisted on manuscript copyediting, EÇM drafted the manuscript. International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences Research

Latex allergy is a common occupational disease among healthcare workers. Selfadministrated questionnaires, physical examination and allergic tests are largely used to assess data about natural history, risk factors, clinical phenotype, etc. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of allergy to latex gloves among dental students and the association between questionnaire items and diagnostic tests. In this prospective study, a total of 240 students completed a self-administrated questionnaire that comprised of a total of different items and gave information about the participants and their glove use, working habits and glove use, signs and symptoms related to glove use, precautions taken to minimize it, etc. Patch test is performed through latex gloves, while skin prick test with a commercial extract. Questionnaire items and diagnostic tests revealed that one-fourth of subjects were suspicious for latex gloves hypersensitivity. Their mean value for skin reactions like contact urticaria, irritant or allergic dermatitis was between 10% and 14%, while for other symptoms the mean value was under 5%. Logistic regression analysis revealed an association between different questionnaire items and positive allergy tests among suspected cases and diagnosed cases of latex allergy, but not with control tests (including between the positive patch test and presence of non-cutaneous symptoms). These findings suggest that respiratory exposure plays an important role on the interaction between different mechanisms during sensitization processes, and that questionnaire statements about latex allergy in combination with positive diagnostic tests can be reliable on the identification of allergic subjects.

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