Latex Allergy and Its Prevention Strategies - A Review of Literature

Latex allergy has been reported frequently in last few years. Dental surgeons, dental students and other healthcare providers appear to be at risk of latex allergy in spite of the fact that the present situation warrants the use of protective gloves. Latex allergy affects about 1 % of the general population. Since it has been shown that more frequent cause for development of these reactions is exposure to latex, several measures have been implemented to reduce the prevalence of latex allergy and thus potentially dangerous reactions associated, especially in the high-risk population. This review of the literature seeks to expose the relevant basic concepts about allergic reactions to latex and its prevention strategies