Occupational exposure limits (OELs) together with determined airborne exposures are used in risk assessment based managements of occupational exposures to prevent occupational diseases. In most countries, OELs have only been set for few protein-containing aerosols causing IgE-mediated allergies. They comprise aerosols of flour dust, grain dust, wood dust, natural rubber latex, and the subtilisi...

Many hospitals have implemented policies to restrict or ban the use of devices made of natural rubber latex (NRL) in healthcare as precautionary measures against the perceived risk of NRL allergy. Changes in glove technology, progress in measuring the specific allergenic potential of gloves and a dramatic decrease in the prevalence of NRL allergies after interventions and education prompted us ...

The aim of these guidelines is to assist staff in school and childcare settings to plan and implement appropriate risk minimisation strategies, taking into consideration the needs of the allergic child, the likely effectiveness of measures and the practicality of implementation. Although these guidelines include risk minimisation strategies for allergic reactions to insect stings or bites, late...

A recreational scuba diver wore a second scuba regulator against his face during a scuba dive, attached by an elastic rubber cord necklace. After surfacing, the diver's left face became swollen. Through a process of elimination all other items of scuba equipment were excluded as potential causes. A dive with the same equipment minus the necklace confirmed the involvement of the necklace in the ...

RESULTS. A total of 181 schoolchildren (0.83%) in the 3 districts were dispensed injectable epinephrine during the school year studied. Diagnoses listed for the prescription of epinephrine included peanut/tree nut allergy (65%), stinging-insect allergy (19%), seafood allergy (6%), and egg or dairy allergy (3%). A miscellaneous group (7%) included diagnoses for latex, chocolate, pollen, fruit, c...

Material and methods This is a retrospective study conducted with the information collected from 90 patients allergic to fruit or nut for a period of ten months. The following data were collected: sex, age, pollen allergy type and clinical form, type of allergy to fruit and nut and its clinical manifestation and whether latex sensitization was present or not. The analysis was performed using th...

RESULTS. A total of 181 schoolchildren (0.83%) in the 3 districts were dispensed injectable epinephrine during the school year studied. Diagnoses listed for the prescription of epinephrine included peanut/tree nut allergy (65%), stinging-insect allergy (19%), seafood allergy (6%), and egg or dairy allergy (3%). A miscellaneous group (7%) included diagnoses for latex, chocolate, pollen, fruit, c...

OBJECTIVES This article aims to review the current prevalence rate of latex allergy among healthcare workers, susceptible patients, and the general public, and to investigate why latex is still a ubiquitous occupational health hazard. METHODS Scientific publications on PubMed, particularly those published within the last five years, and current regulations from agencies such as Food and Drug ...

BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that systemic or respiratory occupational responses to latex can be induced by inhalation of latex aeroallergens. OBJECTIVE Our objectives were to study the relationship between exposure to different latex aeroallergen levels and type I allergic reactions in subjects with occupational contact with latex and to assess a threshold value for latex airborne al...

OBJECTIVES Exposure to latex allergens in latex gloves can cause occupational health problems in nurses, yet latex gloves are still widely used in Thai hospitals. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine the prevalence of latex sensitization in nurses and identify risk factors associated with sensitization. MATERIALS AND METHODS A questionnaire, providing information on personal character...