Association Between Latex Sensitization and Repeated Latex Exposure in Children

Anaphylaxis during anesthesia: results of a 12‐year survey at a French pediatric center

“…Primary prevention measures are a priority in children with spina bifida or who require numerous operations (18–23). Indeed, the large number of surgical interventions required in spina bifida patients is correlated with sensitization to latex (24, 25). In our study, 30 of 68 children underwent more than one operation.…”

Frequency of natural rubber latex allergy in adults is increased after multiple operative procedures

“…Only a few studies have investigated the frequency of NRL allergy in other patients with multiple operations. Porri et al (17) found that children with a history of multiple operations also had an increased frequency of NRL allergy irrespective of the underlying disease.…”

“…The major risk factors in sensitization to NRL are intense exposure to NRL allergens, atopy (3–6), and hand eczema (7–9). As gloves and other devices made from NRL are widely used in clinical practice, health‐care workers (3, 10, 11) and patients with spina bifida or other urogenital abnormalities (12–19), who need frequent or continuous medical treatment, have been found to be particularly affected by NRL allergy or sensitization. It has been suggested that the high risk of spina bifida patients to develop NRL allergy might be specifically related to this malformation, and not only to allergen exposure; however, this relation seems unlikely, as the frequency of NRL allergy in such patients without intense contact with NRL allergens also was low (14, 20).…”

“…It has been suggested that the high risk of spina bifida patients to develop NRL allergy might be specifically related to this malformation, and not only to allergen exposure; however, this relation seems unlikely, as the frequency of NRL allergy in such patients without intense contact with NRL allergens also was low (14, 20). Finally, if there was a history of multiple operations in children, NRL allergy was frequent also in such patients without spina bifida (17).…”

Pediatric anesthesia – potential risks and their assessment: part II

“…The highest risk for anaphylaxis from latex is found in children with spina bifida, urinary tract malformations and a history of atopy or previous repeated exposures to latex. Fifty‐five percent of children are sensitized to latex following an average of 7.7 operations independent of their underlying diseases (12). Only the strict avoidance of latex‐containing products can help to minimize a child's risk of latex associated anaphylaxis, as the often recommended chemoprophylaxis consisting of H 1 /H 2 receptor antagonists is ineffective (13).…”