| | | Latex is a natural rubber used in a wide range of household and medical products because of its strength, elasticity, and low cost. A latex allergy may develop from repeated contact with products containing latex, such as latex rubber gloves. About 5 to 10% of healthcare workers have some form of allergy to latex. Avoiding contact with latex is the only effective preventative measure. |
| There are three basic allergic responses for latex sensitive people. They are:
Irritant contact dermatitis. A non-allergic response to latex that includes symptoms such as redness, dryness, itching, burning, scaling and lesions of the skin. This reaction usually subsides shortly after the source of exposure is removed;
Allergic contact dermatitis. This allergic reaction to latex includes symptoms such as redness, dryness, itching, burning, scaling and lesions of the skin that do not subside when the source of exposure is removed, and which tend to spread to areas of the body other than the areas in contact with the latex; and,
Latex allergy (latex hypersensitivity). This severe allergic reaction to latex includes symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, itchy eyes, runny noses, asthma, eczema (skin rashes), allergic rhinitis (hay fever), conjunctivitis (pink eye), cramps, hives and severe itching. In the worst cases, reaction symptoms may include rapid heartbeat, tremors, chest pain, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, anaphylactic shock, temporary loss of consciousness and, potentially, death. |
|