Latex gloveyrelated symptoms among health care workers: A self-report questionnaire-based survey

Background: The use of latex gloves by health care workers (HCWs) can lead to multiple symptoms: eczema, contact urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to reveal the prevalence of latex gloveYrelated symptoms of HCWs at Siriraj Hospital and to determine risk factors associated with those symptoms associated with the use of latex gloves. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were sent to 6880 HCWs who were working at Siriraj Hospital and using latex rubber gloves in their duty. Results: The questionnaire response rate was 65.8%. Of 4529 respondents, the male-to-female ratio was 1:8.6 and the mean age was 34.3 years. The majority of respondents were nurses (83%). The prevalence of glove-related symptoms among the HCWs is 13.3%. Glove-related cutaneous and noncutaneous symptoms were found in 11.3% and 5.9% of the respondents. Conclusions: The hospital housekeepers emerged as the job with the significantly higher prevalence rate of gloverelated symptoms than that of the other job categories. Factors associated with glove-related cutaneous symptoms are frequency and duration of glove use, history of atopy, and history of allergy to fruit cross-reacting with latex. The quantity of glove use, history of atopy, and allergy to fruits cross-reacting with latex are risk factors for the occurrence of gloverelated noncutaneous symptoms.