Alergia al látex en el período perioperatorio

Abstract

Latex or natural rubber latex is a processed plant-based product, extracted from the tropical tree Hevea Brasiliensis. This raw material is widely used in about 40.000 medical and daily-used products. Latex allergy is a relevant pathology in surgical environments that arose after the establishment of universal precautions during the nineties. Risk groups include health-care workers and children with spine bifida who have a prevalence ranging between 2.9-17% and 30-70%, respectively. Latex allergy occurs in a variety of ways in health facilities including hypersensitivity reaction type IV or type I. In the former, chemical substances added to latex trigger the allergic reactions; where allergic dermatitis is the most-frequently found case. In the latter, the reactions are triggered by the contact with latex proteins causing from urticarial to anaphylactic shock and death. Diagnosis of latex allergy is based on a clinical history and/or physical examination associated with a confirmatory test as prick test (latex allergy type I) or cutaneous patches (latex allergy type IV). Nowadays, there is no definitive cure for the latex allergy and its treatment is based on allergen avoidance.