Alergia ao látex e a frutas em profissionais da área da saúde
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Data
2003-12-01
Autores
Marin, Flávia Andréia [UNESP]
Peres, Suely Prieto de Barros Almeida
Venturini, Maria do Carmo [UNESP]
Francisco, Rosane C. Melchiori [UNESP]
Zuliani, Antonio [UNESP]
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Editor
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas
Resumo
INTRODUÇÃO: A alergia ao látex tornou-se um risco crescente aos indivíduos expostos, como os profissionais da área da saúde, tendo como agravo a associação com hipersensibilidade a vários alimentos, especialmente frutas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a freqüência de sensibilização ao látex e a frutas em profissionais da área da saúde. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 53 profissionais da saúde, 81,9% do sexo feminino, aplicando-se questionário alergológico e testes cutâneos por puntura para alérgenos inaláveis, do látex e de frutas (mamão papaia, kiwi, abacate, banana, figo, tomate, noz). RESULTADOS: Dos 53 indivíduos estudados, 15 (28,5%) eram alérgicos ao látex. A sensibilidade a frutas foi diagnosticada em 14 (26,4%), dos quais 10 (18,8%) apresentavam teste por puntura positivo para o látex; as frutas alergênicas mais freqüentes foram papaia (80,0%), kiwi (60,0%) e abacate (50,0%). CONCLUSÃO: Estes achados demonstram a existência da alergia látex-fruta, como descrito na literatura, sendo de suma importância uma avaliação in vivo em profissionais da área de saúde, caracterizados como potencial grupo de risco.
INTRODUCTION: Latex allergy is becoming an increasing risk to exposed individuals, such as the health care workers, and the simultaneous allergy to different types of food, particularly fruits is an aggravating circumstance. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the occurrence of hypersensitivity to both fruits and latex among health care workers. METHODS: Fifth-three health care workers, 81.9% of whom women, were studied by means of a specific questionnaire and through puncture cutaneous tests using allergens of latex and fruits (papaya, kiwi, avocado, banana, fig, tomato, nuts) as well as some potential inhalatory allergens. RESULTS: of the 53 subjects studied, 15 (28.5%) were allergic to the latex. Hypersensitivity to fruits was diagnosed in 14 (26.4%) individuals, 10 of whom (18.8%) presented a latex positive cutaneous test; papaya (80.0%), kiwi (60.0%) and avocado (50.0%) were the most frequent allergenic fruits. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate a relatively high (18.8%) occurrence of latex-fruit allergy, as already described in the literature. It is important to detect such a condition in health care workers, since they are a potential group at risk.
INTRODUCTION: Latex allergy is becoming an increasing risk to exposed individuals, such as the health care workers, and the simultaneous allergy to different types of food, particularly fruits is an aggravating circumstance. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the occurrence of hypersensitivity to both fruits and latex among health care workers. METHODS: Fifth-three health care workers, 81.9% of whom women, were studied by means of a specific questionnaire and through puncture cutaneous tests using allergens of latex and fruits (papaya, kiwi, avocado, banana, fig, tomato, nuts) as well as some potential inhalatory allergens. RESULTS: of the 53 subjects studied, 15 (28.5%) were allergic to the latex. Hypersensitivity to fruits was diagnosed in 14 (26.4%) individuals, 10 of whom (18.8%) presented a latex positive cutaneous test; papaya (80.0%), kiwi (60.0%) and avocado (50.0%) were the most frequent allergenic fruits. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate a relatively high (18.8%) occurrence of latex-fruit allergy, as already described in the literature. It is important to detect such a condition in health care workers, since they are a potential group at risk.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
hipersensibilidade ao látex, reatividade cruzada, profissionais de saúde, latex hypersensibility, cross-reactivity, health occupations
Como citar
Revista de Nutrição. Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, v. 16, n. 4, p. 415-421, 2003.