1Dept of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow, U.P.
Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow, U.P.
*Address for Correspondence: Dr. Sahana.S Senior Lecturer, Dept of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Raebareli road, Uthratiya, Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India. E-mail: shiva21375@yahoo.in, sahana_shiv@yahoo.com, Mobile: 91-9235638220, 91-9235650627.
To survey dental practitioners in Bangalore city concerning their exposure to latex and the prevalence of occupational related allergies, and to assess the knowledge regarding the allergy to latex gloves and their management amongst dental practitioners in Bangalore city.
255 dental practitioners of the 835 practicing in Bangalore city comprised the sample. A questionnaire comprising 17 responses was circulated to the dental practitioners during August – September 2005, for the prevalence of reported latex allergy.
24 indicated having symptoms of latex allergy. 4 of the positive respondents reported with general allergy which is statistically significant at p<0.001. Amongst those without latex allergy, 4 of them had general allergy.
The prevalence of latex glove allergy among dental practitioners seems to be significant and it could represent a serious occupational hazard.
Latex, Allergy, Dental Surgeons
