Latex
Rubber Allergy
What is latex?
Latex or rubber is a natural product obtained from the sap of the Havea tree. Preservatives, stabilizers and antioxidants may be added during manufacture to assist its stability. It may be dipped into a mold, then heated and dried. A dry powder lubricant (usually cornstarch) is often added to prevent the rubber surfaces from sticking together. Allergic reactions can occur to latex protein as well as the chemicals added to it, but not to cornstarch.
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.
Latex has great physical properties
It stretches without breaking, can
be molded into shape and provides a barrier to water and germs.
That's why it is so commonly used in commercial products.
These include such things as rubber sheets, baby dummies, the nipples on the tops of baby bottles teats, rubber balls, balloons, washing-up gloves, condoms, diaphragms, rubber bands, clothing elastic, handles / grips as well as the stretch headbands that hairdressers use.
For similar reasons, it has traditionally been used in many medical products and devices, although substitutes are now becoming more common. These include latex gloves, urinary catheters, tubing for barium enemas, rubber bungs in intravenous giving sets and sometimes drug vials, tourniquets used for taking blood, the rubber gum in self-adhesive bandages, dental drains and "rubber dams", some tapes, and anaesthetic tubing.
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. Irritation from
washing with harsh soaps or sweating under gloves 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. Others will develop irritation after wearing
a condom, having a Pap smear taken or after dental treatment.
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.
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.
Testing for latex allergy
Your doctor will normally ask a series
of questions that may help to identify the cause of your problem.
This will often be followed by allergy testing to help confirm
or exclude the presence of allergy. These include skin prick tests,
blood allergy (RAST) tests or "patch tests" in those
with a delayed contact allergic dermatitis.
Management of Latex Allergy
If you are not latex allergic but your job involves frequent exposure to it
