Resumen

PIMENTEL H, Eva C. Consideraciones odontológicas en el paciente pediátrico  alérgico al látex. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2008, vol.46, n.2, pp.205-208. ISSN 0001-6365.

Latex is a vegetal product obtained from the trunk of a tropical tree named Hevea brasiliensis. Nowadays, this tree is cultivated in several places of the world, especially in Southeast Asia. ¹ Latex constitutes the raw material for more than 40,000 products used in households as well as in the medical and dentistry field.^1,2,3,4  Any person is in permanent contact with latex since birth, and in adult life still in  the presence of material like gloves of domestic and professional use, sport equipment, condoms, adhesives, fabrics, elastic fibbers, sanitary supplies and a long list of other products that contain latex.¹ It is not surprising that a person becomes sensible to latex at any given time. It has been described that materials containing latex in their composition can induce allergic reactions varying from a simple rhinitis to an anaphylactic shock that can cause death.⁵ Although most cases of allergy to latex described are reported in hospitals⁵ and occur in patients with high risk such as children with spina bifida,⁶ is also possible that occurs in dental patients or in the oral health professional. This is why; the knowledge of this condition is of great interest for the professionals in the oral health; to avoid clinical situations that can put in danger the life of the patient or the oral health professional. Likewise, if the patient is allergic to latex, the oral health professional must use latex free gloves and materials that are available in the market and take all necessary measures to guarantee a safe environment.

Palabras clave : latex; allergy; dentistry; children.