Prevalence of Occupational Allergy in Dentists and Students of Dentistry of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Cuenca

Health personnel are exposed to multiple substances both aerported and contact that can determine awareness and allergy to them. In our country there are no descriptions about it. Recently this group has worked in latex allergy in doctor and nursing personnel of operating rooms of the Austro hospitals, but it is clear that in dentists, a group with important occupational exposure to latex and other elements, no study has been done in our country. The prevalence of awareness of type I in dentists is 12 to 17%. Type IV awareness, which determines skin reactions is 1%, but studies published so far have used inappropriate allergens for diagnosis. This study aims to know the prevalence of awareness of occupational allergens both inhaled and direct contact between dental staff and dentistry students of the University of Cuenca. Through questionnaire, the presence of atopic diseases, associated risk factors, time and intensity of exposure will be identified. The sensitization will be determined with duties of different nature with standardized allergens elaborated for this purpose. The information will be subjected to univariate analysis (averages, standard deviations or percentages) and the degree of association between latex awareness and contact allergens with other variables (emphasizing to compare students with teachers) will be measured, by means of Chi Square (tablecloth) and logistics regression.

7th UNIVERSITY PROJECT COMPETITION, 2nd RESEARCH PROGRAM COMPETITION