Allergy From Products Made of Latex

There are many forms of allergy common to man. Food allergies, dog allergies, allergy to medications, and allergy to dust or pollen are the most common allergies present. However, there are also rare cases of allergy that could occur like latex allergy.

Latex is a natural substance that comes from rubber trees. It is mostly used in producing materials that are rubber in nature like balloons, pacifiers, rubber toys, rubber bands, adhesives, diapers, sanitary pads, and condoms. Allergic reactions arise from latex because of its protein content. When this protein content in latex enters the body, the immune system attacks it because it mistakenly believes the substance to be harmful. When this happens, chemicals like histamines are released in the body and then allergic reactions will start breaking.

Like food allergies, latex allergy is somehow hard to deal with for most household and office products manufactured today contain latex. The people most susceptible to developing this kind of allergy are health care workers and those who are working in the rubber industry. The common symptoms latex allergic people suffer from are coughing, itchy, watery and red eyes, difficulty in breathing, and hives. These symptoms break out when an allergic person comes in direct contact with the allergen or inhales it. Also, direct contact such as wearing gloves could induce three kinds of reaction – irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and hypersensitivity immune system response.

The common ways used to diagnose latex allergy are skin tests and blood tests. Once a person is diagnosed to have latex allergy, the best cure that he or she can do is to prevent contact with latex containing products. In cases wherein an allergic person accidentally comes in contact with latex no matter how hard he or she avoids it, medications like antihistamines could be given for mild symptoms and epinephrine for severe symptoms. Creams could also be used to relieve uncomfortable skin reactions brought about by latex allergy.

If you are allergic to latex, there are things you can do to lessen the frequent recurrence of your allergic attacks. Wearing a medical bracelet indicating that you are allergic to latex helps alert the people around you that you suffer from allergic reactions when exposed to the substance. Another way is to lessen your contact with latex containing products. Oftentimes, there are substitutes you can use to prevent contact with latex as most latex products have suitable alternatives.