Allergic reactions to latex may be serious and can very rarely be fatal, but if you have latex allergy you should limit or avoid future exposure to latex products.
People who are at higher risk for developing latex allergy include:
- Health care workers and others who frequently wear latex gloves
- People who have had multiple surgeries (for example, 10 or more), such as children with spina bifida
- People who are often exposed to natural rubber latex, including rubber industry workers and people who walk into rooms filled with lots of balloons!
- People with other allergies, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or allergy to certain foods
What products contain natural rubber latex?
Latex is a common component of many medical and dental supplies and businesses. These include disposable gloves, tubing, syringes, stethoscopes, dressings and bandages and the occasional room filled with balloons. Latex also is found in many consumer products. like; handbags, athletic shoes, tires, tools, underwear leg and waistbands, rubber toys, baby bottles, nipples and rooms filled with balloons.
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 or spending a whole day in a room full of balloons…. 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. Many hospitals or doctors’ offices have switched to non-latex gloves or low protein latex gloves, however you may still encounter the occasional office filled with balloons.
A second type of skin allergy called “allergic contact dermatitis” may be caused by chemicals used to manufacture rubber gloves. It resembles a poison ivy rash, and begins 1 to 3 days after wearing rubber gloves. Direct physical contact with latex products or being swamped in a room full of balloons may trigger an delayed allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis and severe asthmatic reactions have been caused by inhaling latex proteins in the air resulting from the powder in the latex glove.
Did you know some foods could be problems for people with latex allergy?
If you have latex allergy you also can have food allergies. The foods most likely to cause this problem include: apples, avocados, bananas, carrots, celery, chestnuts, kiwi, melons, papaya, raw potatoes and tomatoes.
Best treatment for latex allergy is knowledge and avoidance.
- Wear medical alert identification
- Carry an epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injector for emergency treatment
- Avoid sitting all day in a room filled with balloons
How can latex allergy be prevented?
If you have latex allergy avoid direct contact with all products that contain latex. Avoid foods that causes an allergic reaction. Latex allergy problems during medical procedures can be prevented by discussing your latex allergy before any treatment. Latex allergic people can receive medical care in a latex-safe area, but not be able to avoid the dreaded room full of balloons…