Latex Allergy - Managing Your Allergies: Allergies

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Latex allergy

Latex allergy is a reaction to the proteins in natural latex rubber or to the additives used in processing latex. People with latex allergy are often also allergic to certain foods — bananas, avocados, kiwis, and chestnuts, for example.

Most people with latex allergy get an itchy, red rash when they come into contact with latex, such as when wearing rubber gloves, using condoms, or blowing up balloons. But latex can also trigger asthma and anaphylaxis, especially when inhaled — from powdered latex gloves or when instruments containing latex are used in tests or surgery. Latex allergy is on the rise, especially among health care workers and patients who require extensive hospitalization. This is probably because of the extensive use of latex in today’s health care setting and changes in manufacturing processes introduced to meet demand. Latex is in all sorts of hospital paraphernalia — gloves, catheters, blood pressure cuffs, tourniquets, EKG pads, drains, and even some bandages. Aware of the latex-allergy problem, hospitals have made huge strides in eliminating latex in all but a few essential settings. But health care workers with severe latex allergy sometimes have to switch to another career because it isn’t simply wearing latex gloves that’s causing the problem. Just being in an environment where latex particles can become airborne, as when powdered latex gloves are removed, is too big a risk.

Diagnosing latex allergy

Latex allergy is often diagnosed from an individual’s history and a positive RAST result for latex. Although skin testing is available in Europe, there is no FDA-approved skin test for latex in the United States. Some doctors have made their own skin test solutions from rubber gloves in saline. But these well-intentioned homemade tests are not standardized, so their sensitivity, specificity, and safety have not been proved. Therefore, in the face of a suggestive history — especially one that involves rashes caused by latex products — latex avoidance is prudent, even with a negative RAST result.

Treating latex allergy

As with other allergies, avoidance is the best treatment. Should you need medical tests or surgery, tell all medical personnel that you are allergic to latex, and make sure your latex allergy is documented in all your records. If you have a latex reaction, follow the treatments already described for contact dermatitis, asthma, or anaphylaxis.

Last updated:	August 21, 2006
Reviewed By:	Faculty of Harvard Medical School