Latex allergy in spina bifida patients.

Latex allergy has become a major problem in children with spina bifida, who need to undergo many major aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Latex allergy is increasing in medical and surgical practice. Although early reports of latex allergy date from 1927, only over the last decade there has been more attention paid to latex allergy. This is due to an increasing number of reported cases of mild to fatal adverse reactions to latex. Risk groups have been identified; among these are patients undergoing multiple surgeries such as those with spina bifida. In this critical review, we aim to emphasize some aspects of the current management of surgical patients with latex allergy.