Latex allergy poses a serious risk to health professionals but goes unrecognised in Hong Kong, a medical expert has warned.
Dr Roland Leung Chung-chuen, an associate professor of medicine at Chinese University, said more health professionals were developing sensitivities and allergies to latex gloves and other items but might be unaware of it.
Allergic symptoms include rashes, nose inflammations and asthmatic attacks, which could be fatal in severe cases.
'The AIDS and Hepatitis B epidemics have forced all professionals to wear gloves, and that means more people are developing allergies,' he said.
A co-author of the first study, Clinical and Experimental Allergy published in February, on the latex allergy of Asians, Dr Leung found that 3.3 per cent of medical staff suffered from the allergy while 31 per cent experienced reactions such as itching, red skin and dryness.
There are 3,200 doctors and 18,000 nurses under the Hospital Authority and 700 health workers could be suffering from latex allergy.
The study polled 2,000 Prince of Wales Hospital staff and 73.6 per cent, or 1,472, responded.