The latex is being considered the allergenic agent of the year 2000, taking into account that several individuals, mainly health care professionals, and patients who had undergone many diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, are frequently exposed to latex allergens, which are present in natural rubber latex products. The clinical manifestations, derived from allergic reactions of immediate hypersensitivity vary from since rhinitis, conjunctivitis, urticaria, angioedema, asthma, to anaphylaxis. Recent researches are demonstrating that patients allergic to latex develop concomitantly sensitization to certain vegetable foods, especially fruits like papaya, fig, banana, avocado, kiwi, peach, pineapple, melon and chestnut, and a probable occurrence of cross reaction between allergens of latex and of these fruits is believed. A review is made about latex allergy, in particular about risk groups, including the presence of cross-reactivity between latex and fruit.
food hypersensitivity; latex; cross-reactivity; fruit