Presumptive frequency of, and review of reports on, allergies to household gloves

Background  Allergies to latex or 'rubber chemicals' in medical or other occupationally used gloves are not uncommon. In contrast, very few articles have reported on latex allergy (type I) or allergic contact sensitization to additives (type IV) associated with household gloves, in spite of some 44 million pairs sold in Germany in, e.g., 2006.
Objective  We seek to determine the frequency of allergies to household gloves by providing own data and we reviewed the literature.
Methods  The study was based on 105083 consultations of patients with suspected contact allergy (Type IV) in the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) in Germany in the years 1995 to 2006 and on the PubMed databases (last access 7/2008).
Results  1221 patients were identified in whom protective gloves were considered as a possible cause of contact dermatitis and who did not work in occupations associated with above average risk of contact allergy to rubber chemicals. In 178 cases positive reactions to rubber components were reported, while 13 additional cases reacted only to a previously used rubber glove brand, but not to commercial allergens.
In the literature only two publications on type I and two on type IV reactions were found in which allergies to rubber household gloves were explicitly reported.
Conclusions  Allergies to rubber household gloves seem to be rare. Factors presumably counteracting contact sensitization by household gloves, compared to occupational use, comprise short intermediate use, loose fitting and the incorporation of e.g. an inner cotton surface reducing skin contact with rubber chemicals.

Conflict of interest

Ehrhardt Proksch has acted as consultant to Wirtschaftsverband der deutschen Kautschukindustrie e.V. (WDK).