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What is latex Allergy?

herbalremedy | 26 July, 2008 05:26


Natural rubber latex comes from a liquid in tropical rubber trees. This liquid is processed to make many of the following rubber products used at home and at work:
·    Balloons
·    Rubber toys
·    Pacifiers and baby-bottle nipples
·    Rubber bands
·    Adhesive tape and bandages
·    Diapers and sanitary pads
·    Condoms

In addition, many medical and dental supplies contain latex, including gloves, urinary catheters, dental dams and material used to fill root canals, as well as tourniquets and equipment for resuscitation. Non-latex substitutes can be found for all of these latex-containing items.

Latex Allergy
Natural latex from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis is an allergen in persons with significant cumulative latex exposure, such as those in the health care and rubber industries, as well as those undergoing repeated surgeries, especially if they undergo surgeries early in life. Symptoms of latex allergy may progress rapidly and unpredictably to anaphylaxis. The prevalence of latex allergy has increased as the use of rubber gloves in health care settings has increased. Airborne latex particles that adhere to the cornstarch used to powder gloves are a significant cause of respiratory symptoms and a source of sensitization. Once an individual has become sensitized, he or she may experience allergic symptoms when exposed to any product containing latex.

Causes
In a latex allergy, your immune system identifies latex as a harmful substance. Your immune system triggers certain cells to produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight the latex component (the allergen). The next time you come in contact with latex, the IgE antibodies sense it and signal your immune system to release histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream.
These chemicals cause a range of allergic signs and symptoms. Histamine is partly responsible for most allergic responses, including runny nose, itchy eyes, dry throat, rashes and hives, nausea, diarrhea, labored breathing, and even anaphylactic shock.
 
Is latex allergy serious?
For most people, most of the time, the answer is no, latex allergy is not serious - they will only have mild symptoms (see 'symptoms').
However, latex allergy must still be taken very seriously because a few people do suffer a serious reaction known as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock, even to apparently harmless materials (2) (see 'symptoms').
Although anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition, there are ways of treating it and death as a result of latex allergy is extremely rare (see 'How can it be managed?').

How is latex allergy treated?

Avoidance of the provoking agent (allergen), such as latex, is the most effective way to manage any allergy. Latex free synthetic rubber, such as neoprene, nitrile, SBR, Butyl, and Vitron are polymers that are available as alternatives to natural rubber. There are no naturally occurring proteins in them and they are NOT responsible for latex allergy. Labeling is extremely important, but mandatory labeling is currently not required.

Patients who are known to be allergic should avoid any product that might contain latex until the latex content is determined by contacting the manufacturer. Even products labeled "safe latex" (which indicates lower proportions of natural latex) can cause latex allergy.

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