SATURDAY, July 20, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- Latex gloves are meant to protect health-care workers from blood borne diseases.
However, the gloves themselves may actually pose a health threat by increasing the risk of latex allergies, says a University of Maryland School of Medicine study.
The study looked at a screening program for health-care workers at the Maryland Medical Center that found 8 percent of workers were latex-sensitive. The result is much higher than the 3 percent national average for the general public.
The study was published in a recent issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
"Allergy to natural rubber latex has become an important occupational health problems for health-care workers," says study co-author Mary Beth Bollinger.
More Information
For more information about latex allergies, contact the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at 1-800-842-7777 or go to their Web site.
