Natural rubber latex as an aeroallergen in the general environment.

Allergy to natural latex has become a major health problem. Individuals with an atopic diathesis and intense exposure to natural latex are particularly at risk for development of a sensitization to natural latex. Thus, allergy is frequent in certain occupational setting, especially among health-care workers, due to the use of rubber gloves, and among individuals producing articles containing natural latex, but also in patients with a history of repeated operations or frequent use of natural latex containing nursing articles.