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 gloves or low protein latex gloves.
A second type of skin allergy called “allergic contact dermatitis” may be caused by chemicals used to manufacture rubber gloves. This dermatitis is recognized by the eczema and blisters on the back of the hands. It resembles a poison ivy rash, and begins 1 to 3 days after wearing rubber gloves.
Direct physical contact with latex products is not needed to trigger an 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.
What foods are potential 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: apple, avocado, banana, carrot, celery, chestnut, kiwi, melons, papaya, raw potato and tomato.
Management and Treatment
How is latex allergy diagnosed?
Latex allergy is diagnosed by an allergy blood test.
How is latex allergy treated?
The best treatment for latex allergy is avoidance. If you have severe latex allergy reaction you should:
- Wear medical alert identification
- Carry an epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injector for emergency treatment
Health care workers with a history of latex sensitivity who must wear gloves should stop wearing latex gloves. Their co-workers should also not use latex gloves, but rather switch to synthetic gloves.
Patients with latex allergy are at risk of asthma on exposure to latex-containing aerosols. They should try to avoid areas where powdered latex gloves or other latex products are used.
How can latex allergy be prevented?
If you have latex allergy you should avoid direct contact with all products and devices that contain latex. Also avoid food that causes an allergic reaction. Latex allergy problems during dental, medical or surgical procedures can be prevented by warning health care providers about latex allergy before any test or treatment. Latex allergic people can receive medical or dental care in a latex-safe area. Hospitals and clinics that use only low protein latex gloves and non-latex gloves have experienced dramatic declines in new cases of latex allergy.
Allergists can provide latex-allergic people with information and assistance to help them avoid products which may contain latex. The American Latex Allergy Association also has additional information.
With the right treatment plan, you’ll understand how to manage your allergies, so you can be in control.
A latex allergy is when your body’s immune system overreacts to certain kinds of proteins found in natural rubber latex that’s used to make things like
rubber gloves, condoms, and some medical devices. Doctors don’t know what causes it. Coming in contact with latex and rubber products over and over may be part of the reason it happens. About 5% to 10% of health care workers have some form of latex
allergy. Other people who are more likely than most people to get it include those who have: Rubber industry workers and people who use condoms are also more likely than others to get a latex allergy. You can get exposed to latex: There are three types of latex reactions: 1. Irritant contact
dermatitis. This is the least-threatening type, and it’s not an allergic skin reaction. It usually happens due to repeated exposure to chemicals in latex gloves and leads to dryness, itching, burning, scaling, and skin problems. This generally starts 12-24 hours after contact. 2. Allergic contact dermatitis. This is a delayed reaction to additives used in latex processing. It results in the same type of reactions as irritant contact dermatitis. But the reaction is more severe, spreads to more parts of the body, and lasts longer. Symptoms can start anywhere from 1 to 4 days after you've come in contact with latex. Latex Allergies
What Is a Latex Allergy?
Who Is Likely to Develop a Latex Allergy?
How Can You Be Exposed to Latex?
Types of Latex Allergies
3. Immediate allergic reaction (latex hypersensitivity). This one is the most serious. It can show up as a nasal allergy with hay fever-like symptoms, conjunctivitis
(pinkeye), cramps, hives, and severe itching. It’s rare, but symptoms may also include rapid heartbeat, tremors,
chest pain, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, or anaphylaxis, a
severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. If you have severe symptoms, call your doctor or 911 immediately, or go to the nearest emergency room. Doctors diagnose a latex allergy in people who: If you need a
skin test to check on a latex allergy, an allergy specialist must supervise it, in case you have a severe reaction. There’s no cure for a latex allergy. If you’re allergic to latex, the best course of action is to avoid contact with it. If you do have a reaction, the treatment will depend on how serious it is. For
irritated skin, these may be enough: If your reaction is severe, you may need these right away: If you have a latex allergy, wear a medical alert bracelet or another type of ID in case of an emergency. You may also need to carry two
epinephrine shots if your doctor recommends that. An allergy to latex can become worse the more you come in contact with it. If you know you have this condition, be aware of products that may have the potential to cause a reaction. Ask your doctor if you need to avoid them. Many items have latex in
them. Read product labels carefully. You may need to ask product makers to be sure.Latex Allergy Diagnosis
Latex Allergy Treatment
Latex Allergy Home Triggers
Home goods that are made with latex include: Outside the home, latex is also in many items, such as:
- Grocery store checkout belts
- Restaurants where workers use latex gloves to prepare food
- Some balloons
- Car races that give off tire and rubber particles
- ATM machine buttons made of rubber
- Gloves worn by beauty salon workers
Medical products containing latex include:
- Tourniquets
- Blood pressure pads
- EKG pads
- Stethoscopes
- IV tubing
- Some adhesive bandages
- Dental devices
How Can I Safely Visit a Doctor or Dentist?
Tell them about your latex allergy at least 24 hours before your appointment. The hospital or doctor's office should have a plan in place so they can use products like nonlatex gloves to treat you.
Ask for the first appointment in the morning. Even if your doctor or dentist uses latex-free gloves for you, there can be latex particles in the air from gloves used with other patients. You're more likely to avoid these particles by getting there early.
If you have to stay in the hospital, you'll usually be given your own room, free of products that might give you a reaction.
Food Triggers
Between 30% and 50% of people who have a latex allergy also have reactions to eating, touching, or even smelling certain foods. This happens because some fruits and vegetables have proteins that are structured a lot like the ones that cause the reaction to latex. It’s called a cross-reaction.
These foods include:
- Avocado
- Banana
- Celery
- Cherry
- Chestnut
- Fig
- Grape
- Hazelnut
- Kiwi
- Melon
- Nectarine
- Papaya
- Peach
- Pineapple
- Plum
- Potato
- Rye
- Strawberries
- Tomato
- Wheat
Almonds, peppermint, and mustard can also cause cross-reactions.
If you’re allergic to any of these foods, you may also have a latex allergy, even if you don’t know it. Let your doctor and dentist know so they can keep from exposing you.