Latex Allergy
Triggers and Symptoms
What triggers the allergic reaction to latex?
When people with latex allergy come into direct contact with latex, an allergic reaction may follow. Common examples include:
- A medical or dental procedure conducted by health care workers wearing natural rubber latex gloves
- Blowing up a rubber balloon
What are latex allergy symptoms?
In most cases, latex allergy develops after many previous exposures to latex. Latex allergy symptoms may include hives, itching, stuffy or runny nose. It can cause asthma symptoms of wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Symptoms begin within minutes after exposure to latex containing products. The most severe latex allergy can result in anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction involving severe breathing difficulty and/or fall in blood pressure (shock).
Allergic skin problems can occur following direct contact with allergic latex proteins in latex glove products. Symptoms may include immediate itching, redness and swelling of skin that touched the item containing latex. These and other latex allergic reactions are less common now. Many hospitals or doctors’ offices have switched to non-latex gl
Latex Allergy Foods: What to Eat and What to Avoid
For some people with a latex allergy, foods like avocado, bananas, and kiwi can also cause an allergic reaction known as latex-fruit syndrome.
Natural latex is a milky sap from the Hevea brasiliensisrubber tree used to make balloons, condoms, mattresses, and many medical and dental products. Latex allergies can cause symptoms that range from a mild rash or stuffy nose to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Many foods contain proteins similar to those in natural latex. An estimated 30% to 50% of people with latex allergies have a cross-reaction to foods with these proteins.
This article explains why this cross-reactivity happens and how to identify latex allergy foods. It also lists some foods and latex products that some people with latex allergic reactions also have to avoid.
Latex Allergy Reaction Signs and Symptoms
An allergic reaction to latex can range from a reasonably mild, itchy rash on the skin to the severe and systemic effects of a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock. The reaction can happen immediately, or for certain skin reactions, you may experience a delayed response of up to 48 hours.
There
What to know about latex allergy
There is no current treatment available to desensitize someone that is allergic to latex. In other words, there is no way to prevent an allergic reaction if somebody is allergic to latex and comes into contact with it.
Allergic reactions are treated with antihistamines, adrenaline, and steroids.
The most effective way to treat this type of allergy is to avoid products containing latex. Patients should learn how to identify and stay away from products that might contain latex. There are other substances that can be used to substitute latex, such as polymers (nitrile, SBR, Butyl, Vitron) and synthetic elastic, such as elastane or neoprene.
Unfortunately, makers of latex-containing products are not legally required to mention on their labels which chemicals were used in the manufacturing process. Products made from natural rubber containing other emulsions seem to have a very low potential for causing sensitization.
In some cases, the patients’ sensitivity is so heightened that replacement of latex-containing products with non-latex ones may still result in a reaction. This is because the latex-free ones are manufactured in the same fa
Latex allergy
Medical condition
Latex allergy is a medical term encompassing a range of allergic reactions to the proteins present in natural rubber latex.[1] It generally develops after repeated exposure to products containing natural rubber latex. When latex-containing medical devices or supplies come in contact with mucous membranes, the membranes may absorb latex proteins. In some susceptible people, the immune system produces antibodies that react immunologically with these antigenic proteins.[2] Many items contain or are made from natural rubber, including shoe soles, pen grips, hot water bottles, elastic bands, rubber gloves, condoms, baby-bottle nipples, and balloons; consequently, there are many possible routes of exposure that may trigger a reaction. People with latex allergies may also have or develop allergic reactions to some fruits, such as bananas.[3]
Signs and symptoms
[edit]Allergic reactions to latex range from Type I hypersensitivity, the most serious form of reaction, to Type IV hypersensitivity.[4] Rate of onset is directly proportional to the degree of allergy: Type I responses will begin showing symptoms wi
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