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What Is A
Latex Allergy?
A latex allergy is when a person
has side effects from coming in to direct or indirect
contact with rubber or latex containing products. There
are 3 types of reactions:
Irritant
dermatitis
This is not allergic. It is
irritation resulting from washing with harsh soaps or
sweating under gloves and results in rough, dry and
scaly rashes. Even though irritant dermatitis is not an
allergy, absorption of latex through damaged skin
increases the risk of later developing allergy with
continued exposure.
Contact allergic
dermatitis
This is a reaction to the
chemicals added to rubber during manufacture, not due to
an allergy to latex proteins. Rough and scaly and
sometimes weeping rashes can develop within a few
days of contact. As with irritant dermatitis,
absorption of latex through damaged skin increases the
risk of later developing allergy with continued
exposure.
Immediate allergic reactions to
latex
Contact with latex releases the
irritant chemical "histamine" into the tissues.
Reactions can occur within minutes and include hives or
swollen lips or face at the site of contact. Hay
fever-like symptoms may occur, typically in hospital
settings where frequent changing of gloves can result in
suspension of fine latex particles in the air. More
serious reactions can occur. In very sensitive patients,
rapid absorption of latex through moist surfaces like as
the mouth, nose, throat, vagina, rectum ("back passage")
can result in difficulty breathing, a drop in blood
pressure or even shock and
anaphylaxis.
What are the symptoms of latex
allergy?
Latex allergy often begins with a
rash on the hands when using natural rubber latex
gloves. Other allergic symptoms include hay fever
type reactions such as itchy swollen eyes, runny nose,
and sneezing. Some patients may develop asthma
symptoms such as chest tightness, wheezing, coughing and
shortness of breath.
Can my latex allergy get
worse?
There is evidence that the more
you are exposed to latex, the more allergic you may
become. If you have only a minor latex allergy,
you should minimize your exposure to latex so that you
do not risk becoming more sensitive.
If you suffer from hay fever
symptoms when exposed to latex, continued exposure to
latex can cause you to develop asthma.
Can a latex allergy be life
threatening?
While it is uncommon, some latex
allergic individuals can suffer a potentially
life-threatening allergic reaction when they come in
contact with natural rubber latex.
This serious reaction is called
anaphylactic shock. It occurs within minutes of
exposure, and is characterized by generalized hives,
breathing difficulties and low blood pressure.
Anaphylactic shock may be fatal and must be promptly
treated by adrenalin injection.
Anaphylactic shock is most likely
to occur during direct tissue contact with natural
rubber latex products. Direct contact occurs when
the skin barrier, which protects you, has been broken,
or the contact is across a mucous membrane. Mucous
membrane contact can occur in the mouth (e.g. blowing up
a balloon, dental surgery, anesthetic administration),
vagina (condom use, vaginal examination), rectum and
colon (examination or enema administration), or urethra
(catheterization). Direct tissue contact occurs
during surgery because surgeons normally wear natural
rubber latex gloves when operating on a patient.
Can latex allergy be
treated?
No treatments are yet available
to cure natural rubber latex allergy. So far the
best "treatment" is to avoid exposure to latex.
Medications are available to temporarily alleviate
symptoms.
Who is at
risk?
Most people who are allergic
to latex have had frequent exposure to latex in the
past. The vast majority are nurses, doctors, dentists,
or patients who have had a number of operations, such as
those with spina bifida. Many are also allergic to other
substances such as grass pollens or dust mite proteins.
In other words, they usually already have other allergic
disease such as asthma, Hay fever or
eczema.
Food allergy and
latex
Proteins in latex are present in
some foods as well. Latex-allergic people sometimes find
that some foods cause an itchy mouth or throat swelling.
The most common foods described are banana and avocado
and sometimes kiwi fruit, passion fruit, plums,
strawberry, tomato or other fruits. These foods do not
have to be avoided routinely just if they cause
problems.
Management of Latex
Allergy
-
Avoid latex. Latex allergy
cannot be "turned off". The only treatment is careful
avoidance. The more that you are exposed to latex, the
more allergic you may become. It is therefore
important to avoid latex as much as possible, even if
your own latex allergy is relatively mild.
-
Wear a Medic Alert bracelet. If
you are unconscious or confused and need emergency
treatment, then the nurses and doctors will be aware
of this and again will make alternative arrangements
for your treatment.
Synthetic
rubber
Synthetic
rubber can be made these days from
petrochemicals. It is used in many commercial products
such as latex paints and even the seals used in many
asthma puffers! These products do not contain
allergenic natural latex proteins and do not
cause allergic reactions.
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