If you start wheezing when your dentist snaps on a pair of rubber gloves, you may be allergic to latex. As latex products become more common, the incidence of this allergy has skyrocketed in recent years.

Natural rubber latex is a processed plant product found in commercial items, ranging from medical supplies (surgical gloves, syringes, catheters, and stethoscopes), to consumer goods (gardening gloves, balloons, condoms, tires, elastic waistbands, athletic shoe soles, and children’s rubber toys and pacifiers). Up to 6% of the general population and 15% of health care workers are allergic to latex, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

Latex allergy symptoms

Latex allergy most often occurs in people who are frequently exposed to it, either by direct contact or by inhaling the powder that coats some latex gloves. That’s why some highly sensitive people have a reaction to latex without even touching it. For those who are allergic, skin contact with latex can lead to a red, itchy rash (called contact dermatitis). Health care workers are especially at risk since they may come in contact with latex every day on the job.

The symptoms of inhaling latex allergen are similar to those of hay fever — coughing, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, and nasal congestion. But with latex allergy, respiratory symptoms can be even more pronounced. An allergic reaction to latex can lead to anaphylaxis, a dangerous and life-threatening reaction that affects the whole body at once. You can have an anaphylactic reaction to latex even if touching it in the past has never caused so much as a rash.

Cross-reactivity

Latex allergies can be cross-reactive, meaning they are linked with other allergies. For instance, if you’re allergic to latex, and especially if your latex allergy symptoms have become increasingly severe over time, you may be at higher risk of developing certain food allergies. Foods that are crossreactive with latex include the following:

• Avocados
• Raw potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Celery
• Carrots
• Apples
• Pears
• Tropical fruits such as bananas, papayas, kiwis, pineapples, and mangos
• Pitted fruits including peaches, plums, and cherries
• Some nuts such as chestnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds

Diagnosing latex allergy

Your health care provider can perform a blood (RAST) test to identify the presence of latex antibodies in your body. He or she also may do a skin prick test to learn whether you have latex allergy, although this approach is relatively rare.

Avoiding your triggers

As with other allergies, avoiding triggers is the best way to treat the problem. Since surgical gloves are a major source of latex exposure, the ACAAI and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology have called for hospitals and health clinics nationwide to use only nonpowdered surgical gloves. Until this happens, make sure to tell doctors and nurses that you’re allergic to latex. It’s also a good idea to wear a medical alert bracelet for latex allergy in case of emergencies.

Although latex is a common ingredient in many consumer products, you don’t have to give up wearing gardening gloves. Butyl- or petroleum-based synthetic rubber products have not been shown to cause allergic reactions. Vinyl is also an effective substitute. By choosing latex-free products, you can minimize your exposure to this increasingly common allergen.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 20th, 2007 at 9:33 am and is filed under Skin Concerns. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.