Purpose: The latex allergy is known as a very frequent problem of children with spina bifida (SB). The aim of this prospective study is to determine the frequency of latex sensitization and allergy in Turkish children with SB and to evaluate the related risk factors.
Methods: We enrolled a total of 175 children and collected them in four groups of patients: children with SB, children who had neurosurgical disorders other than SB, atopic children with allergic diseases, and healthy children as control group. All cases were evaluated for latex sensitivity and allergy with skin prick tests and specific IgE. The diagnosis of latex allergy was confirmed with the latex provocation test.
Results: Ten children with SB, two children with other neurological disorders, and three atopic children with allergic disease were found "sensitized to latex". Among these sensitized children, only one child with SB had latex allergy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the children with SB and other neurologic disorders and the whole group of patients showed that skin test positivity, the presence of noncentral nervous system (CNS) surgery, and the number of the operations were significant risk factors for latex sensitization.
Conclusions: Our study showed that rates of latex sensitivity and allergy in children with SB in Turkey are significantly lower than published rates in literature. We also found that atopy, the presence of non-CNS operations in children with SB and other neurologic disorder, and total number of operations in the whole group of patients are the most important risk factors for latex sensitization.