Latex Allergy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Allergy to natural rubber latex affects roughly 3% of the general population, Dr. Magdy Badran says.

What Is Latex?

Latex is the milky fluid derived from the lactiferous cells of the rubber tree. Plants usually release latex after they are injured, in the same way, that humans bleed following an injury.

Latex is composed primarily of cis -1,4-polyisoprene, a benign organic polymer that confers most of the strength and elasticity of latex.

It also contains a large variety of sugars, lipids, nucleic acids, and highly allergenic proteins. Natural latex is usually white but can be scarlet, orange, and yellow.

In many modern products, latex is synthesized, rather than being taken from natural sources.

Causes of Latex Allergy

An allergic reaction is an abnormal response of the immune system to a harmless substance. People with latex allergies have over-sensitive immune systems.

Their immune systems react to latex as if it were a harmful substance.

More than 200 polypeptides have been isolated from latex. Latex proteins vary in their allergenic potential.

However, natural rubber latex contains fifteen proven allergenic proteins, which can elicit a hypersensitive immune response in the latex-responsive population and may lead to death if severe (anaphylaxis).

Routes of Latex Exposure

Latex exposures can occur through direct contact with the skin, mucous membranes, or bloodstream, and through inhalation of airborne latex particles.

While medical gloves play a significant role in protecting patients, health care providers, and other inpiduals nearby, if the powder on latex gloves becomes airborne, it can cause allergic reactions.

[caption id="attachment_83127" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Medicall Gloves[/caption]

The protein responsible for latex allergies has been shown to fasten to powder that is used on some latex gloves. When powdered gloves are removed, latex protein/powder particles get into the air, where they can be inhaled and come in contact with mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Today's state-of-the-art medical gloves include nonpowdered alternatives that provide all the benefits of powdered gloves, without the same risks.

Airborne latex particles are significantly higher in areas and departments in healthcare settings where powdered latex gloves are used.

These particles are particularly high in the personal breathing zones of the person wearing latex gloves. These aerosolized particles can also attach to lint, dust, equipment, and even clothing, and become re-suspended into the air.

Inhalation of airborne latex particles can occur when latex proteins combine with the powder or cornstarch from the gloves and form aerosolized particles that become airborne.

These particles get into the eyes, nose, mouth, or lungs, where protein may be absorbed through these moist mucous membranes.

Parenteral exposure can occur during surgery when latex devices are used on open tissue. It can also occur following injections with needles that have punctured a latex rubber stopper on a medication vial.

Who is Affected?

Allergy to natural rubber latex is an important occupational health concern among healthcare workers and the main source of workplace exposure is powdered latex gloves.

About 5% to 10% of healthcare workers have some form of allergy. Other people who are more likely than most people to get it to include those who have a defect in their bone marrow cells, a deformed bladder or urinary tract, had more than one operation, a urinary catheter, which has a rubber tip.

Rubber industry workers and people who use condoms and diaphragms are also more likely than others to get a latex allergy.

There is a genetic link to allergies. Therefore, people are at an increased risk for developing an allergy to latex if they have other allergic conditions such as allergy-induced asthma, eczema (atopic dermatitis), hives (chronic urticaria) and food allergies.

People who have experienced a reaction after eating the banana, kiwi, avocado, potato, strawberries, peaches or chestnuts may also have increased risk for latex allergy.

Latex Products

Latex is used in over 40,000 products with many different uses. Latex also is found in many consumer products.

These include condoms, handbags, balloons, athletic shoes, tires, tools, underwear leg and waistbands, rubber toys, baby bottles, nipples, and pacifiers.

Although rubber gloves are the main source of allergic reactions to latex, it is also a common component of many medical and dental supplies.

These include disposable tourniquets, dental dams, airway, and intravenous tubing, syringes, stethoscopes, catheters, dressings, and bandages.

Latex contamination is a "hiding" hazard to those with latex sensitivity Latex can be found in some surprising everyday places.

These include balloons, ATM machines with rubber buttons, some adhesive bandages, diapers that contain rubber, grocery store checkout belts, rubber electrical cords or water hoses, spandex, blood pressure cuffs and EKG pads, rubber bands, mouse and keyboard cords, desktop and chair pads, rubber stamps, mouse and wrist pads containing rubber, keyboards and calculators with rubber keys or switches, pens with comfort grip or any rubber coating, remote controllers for TVs or recording devices with rubber grips or keys, carpet, car races -- tire and rubber particles could be in the air .

Despite the name, latex paint is made from synthetic ingredients and generally doesn’t cause the same allergic reaction.

[caption id="attachment_83123" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Latex Allergy Rash[/caption]

Latex Allergy Symptoms

An allergic reaction can occur when latex proteins come in contact with the skin, come in contact with a mucous membrane such as the mouth or get into the lungs by breathing them in.

In most cases, latex allergy develops after many previous exposures to latex. Latex allergy symptoms may include: skin rash, hives, eye tearing and irritation, nasal symptoms such as sneezing, drainage (runny nose), or congestion, wheezing, chest constriction (tightness), cough, or shortness of breath, itching and feeling faint (drop in blood pressure).

Symptoms may 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).

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.

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 the skin that touched the item containing latex.

Prevention

The best treatment for latex allergy is avoidance. Limiting exposure to latex can help prevent allergic reactions for both home healthcare workers and their clients.

Employers should provide workers with non-latex gloves when there is little contact with infectious material.

Consider the use of vinyl, nitrile, or polymer gloves appropriate for infectious materials. Provide reduced-protein, powder-free gloves, if latex gloves are selected for use with infectious materials.

Avoid oil-based creams or lotions when using latex gloves. They may cause the gloves to break down. Wash hands with mild soap and dry hands completely after using gloves.

If you have severe latex allergy reaction you should wear medical alert identification.

Before undergoing a medical procedure or surgery, consult the specialist who will perform the procedure about any modifications that may be needed.

Some people who are allergic to latex may also be allergic to specific foods. If someone is allergic to any of the following foods, he may also be allergic to latex.

These include some fruits (strawberries, pineapple, pears, nectarines, cherries, papaya, melons, grapes, figs, plums, peaches, avocados, kiwi, bananas, and apples), some vegetables (tomatoes, celery, carrots, and raw potatoes), some nuts (hazelnuts and chestnuts) and some cereals (rye and wheat).