Latex is a milky fluid that comes from the tropical rubber tree. Hundreds of everyday products contain latex. Repeated exposure to a protein in natural latex can make you more likely to develop a latex allergy. If your immune system detects the protein, a reaction can start in minutes. You could get a rash, asthma and in rare cases shock from latex exposure.
Latex products are all around you. Some common ones are
- Gloves
- Condoms
- Balloons
- Rubber bands
- Shoe soles
- Pacifiers
If you are allergic to latex, it is a good idea to learn which products contain it. That way, you can reduce your exposure. The most common reactions are to gloves and condoms. Latex-free alternatives exist for both.
-
Latex Allergy(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/allergies/basics/254.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/allergies/basics/254.printerview.html
- Latex Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/latex-allergy/DS00621/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
-
Tips to Remember: Latex Allergy(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/latexallergy.stm
Also available in Spanish http://www.aaaai.org/espanol/tips/alergia_al_latex.stm
- Allergy Testing(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/allergy/test.html
- Latex Allergy: A Prevention Guide(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/98-113.html
- Latex in the Hospital, Home, and Community(Spina Bifida Association of America) - Links to PDF - http://www.sbaa.org/atf/cf/{99DD789C-904D-467E-A2E4-DF1D36E381C0}/Latex_2006.pdf
- Article: The prevalence of latex allergy in sixth-year medical students: assessment... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18592822&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: New latex gloves may be safer. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18580652&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Allergen specific nasal challenge to latex in children with latex... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18547477&tool=MedlinePlus
- Latex Allergy -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=latex+hypersensitivity[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
-
Find an Allergist: Search(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - http://www.aaaai.org/physref/
Also available in Spanish http://www.aaaai.org/physref/?espanol=yes
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology - http://www.aaaai.org/
- Food and Drug Administration - http://www.fda.gov/
- Allergy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy.html
- Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Latex Allergy is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/