What Is Latex A Allergy? What Causes A Latex Allergy?

Date: Jun-27-2012Latex allergy is a term that describes the range of allergic reactions to substances in natural latex. An allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions appear when a person's immune system reacts to nontoxic substances in the environment, in this case latex.

Latex can be natural or synthetic. It is found in the milky fluid that exists in about 10% of angiosperms (flowering plants). Latex is a complex emulsion (mixture of at least two liquids that are normally unblendable), consisting of resins, tannins, oils, sugars, starches, alkaloids, proteins and gums that go hard when exposed to air. Plants usually exude latex after there are injured, rather like a human bleeds after a skin lesion. Natural latex is usually white, but can be scarlet, orange, and yellow. Plants use latex as a defense against insects.

Rubber gloves are the main source of allergic reactions. Latex is also used in a wide range of products, such as condoms and some medical devices. Latex is used in over 40,000 products with many different uses.

Examples of products we use that may have latex in them, include:
Band-Aids (UK: sticky plasters)
Balloons
Blood pressure cuffs
Bottle nipples
Condoms
Catheters
Dental items, such as dams and orthodontic rubber bands
Diaphrams
Erasers
Rubber gloves
Helmets
IV tubes
Elastic waistbands in pants and underwear
Pacifiers
Rubber bands
Rubber cement (used in schools and offices)
Rugs and bathmats
Shoes
Some articles of clothing
Some medical devices
Surgical gloves
Teething toys
Toys
Ventilator tubing
Watch bands

Not all the brands contain latex. People with allergies should check the labels, or get in touch with the manufacturer.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary,, an allergy is:

"Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen) resulting in a marked increase in reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes resulting in harmful immunologic consequences."

Rubber plantation in western Cameroon with containers for collecting latex

Latex may be present in unexpected places
The AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology) warns that less-visible elements in unexpected environments may also pose a danger for latex exposure. (Link to article)

Donald H. Beezhold, PhD, FAAAAI, chair of the AAAAI Latex Allergy Committee, said:

"Consider that restaurant meals are frequently prepared by cooks wearing latex gloves. In schools, the cafeteria may be a threat, but there is also potential exposure to latex in school supplies. This type of inadvertent exposure poses a serious health risk to millions of Americans."
What Causes Latex Allergy?
The exact cause of latex allergies is unknown. It appears that repeated and frequent exposure to latex and rubber products may bring on symptoms in some people.

Since the late 1980´s there has been a dramatic rise worldwide in allergy to latex. A logical explanation is the use of universal precautions for preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as the AIDS virus. As a result, the use of latex gloves is nowadays widespread. Frequent exposures to latex and rubber products are common. Health care workers are at particular risk for latex allergy.

According to the AAAAI, over 10% of healthcare workers are thought to have a latex allergy, as well as more than half of all spina bifida patients. Between 1% to 6% of the general population are allergic, experts believe.

Allergic people's immune systems identify latex as a pathogen - a substance or organism which harms health. Experts say that susceptible people react to a protein in the sap of the rubber tree. The immune system triggers cells in the body to produce IgE (immunoglobulin E); these are antibodies which fight the latex component. The next time the body comes into contact with latex, the IgE antibodies sense it and signal the immune system to release chemicals, including histamine into the bloodstream.

The more a susceptible person is exposed to latex, the greater their immune system is likely to be - this is called sensitization.
What is latex?
Latex, as we know it for human use, is a natural product which comes from a fluid that is extracted from the rubber tree found in Africa and Southeast Asia.

A latex medical glove

During manufacturing this fluid is often modified. Different procedures are involved in the manufacturing process. Often, in the case of rushed production the latex product is not thoroughly washed. As a result, more "free" latex is present on the surface. This "free" latex is responsible for a significant proportion of latex allergies.

The powder used in surgical gloves is a major problem. Latex easily sticks to the powder that is commonly used in surgical gloves. During use, the gloves frequently "snap" when we are putting them on or taking them off. This snapping sends the powder into the air. This powder often has latex stuck to it. Inhaled latex can be a serious allergic problem.
What are the different types of latex allergy?
Latex hypersensitivity (Type I)

This is a serious and rare form of allergy causing a severe immediate reaction that can be life-threatening. Some patients may react in a similar way to serious reactions to bee stings.

Symptoms include
rhinitis
conjunctivitis
irritation
severe itching
cramps
gastrointestinal problems

Symptoms may progress to:

rapid heartbeat
tremors
chest pain
difficulty breathing
low blood pressure

People who are severely allergic to latex can suffer reaction to clothes, shoes, and other things that contain natural rubber latex (elastic bands, rubber gloves, condoms, pacifiers, baby-bottle nipples, balloons, cars...). People with this type of allergy are very sensitive - a Type I reaction can be triggered by exposure to airborne particles resulting from blowing up balloons. This can happen even if the person is not present while the balloons are being inflated.

Allergic contact dermatitis

People with this type have a delayed skin reaction and a rash after contact with latex.

Signs and symptoms, all of the skin, include:
scaling
burning
blistering
oozing

The allergy is caused by the additives and chemicals used to process the rubber. Today, there are tests that determine which chemical(s) the person is allergic to. As soon as they find out, they can then avoid products that are processed with that chemical.

Irritant contact dermatitis

This is the most common type of reaction and also the mildest. It causes dry, itchy, irritated areas on the skin. Burning and scaling lesions of the skin are most often located on the patient's hands. The skin becomes irritated after using gloves, frequent hand-washing, incomplete drying, and exposure to hand sanitizers, as well as the talcum powder substance that gloves are coated in.
Who is at risk for developing latex allergy?
Some people are genetically predisposed to be allergic to latex. However, repeated exposure to latex is necessary for an allergy to develop. People at increased risk include those who are:

Health care workers (physicians, nurses, aides, dentists, dental hygienists, operating room employees, laboratory technicians, hospital housekeeping personnel...). In health care settings, latex is everywhere.

People who have had multiple surgical procedures, especially in childhood.

People with a defect in their bone marrow cells.

Patients who require regular or continuous urinary catheters with a rubber tip.

Spinal surgery patients.

Those with eczema.

Individuals affected by asthma.

People with allergies. Especially those with allergies to plant foods, such as mango, kiwi, avocado, pineapple, banana, chestnuts, strawberry, and passion fruit. (See below "What is a cross reaction?)

Employees who work distributing or delivering latex products.

Rubber industry workers.

People who work in car-tire factories

Condom users.

Those allergic to latex condoms can purchase latex-free ones

What is a cross reaction?
Some people who are allergic to latex may also be allergic to specific foods - we call this a Cross Reaction. When this occurs, the body's immune symptoms responds in the same way, producing the same allergic symptoms as would occur with exposure to latex.

Cross reactions are not the same for all people. While some people react to all foods known to cause a cross reaction, others may not. In the same way, if you are allergic to any of the foods listed below, you might also be allergic to latex:

Some fruits - strawberries, pineapple, pears, nectarines, cherries, passion fruit, papaya, melons, grapes, figs, plums, peaches, kiwi, bananas, and apples

Vegetables - tomatoes, avocados, celery, carrots, and raw potatoes

Some nuts - hazelnuts and chestnuts

Some cereals - rye and wheat

Anybody planning to undergo a medical procedure should tell their doctor if they are allergic to any of these foods. There is a risk they may have a cross reaction to latex.
How is latex allergy detected?
The doctor may order a standard allergy patch test, which can determine whether the patient is sensitive to latex and other similar substances. Great care needs to be taken when doing this test, because in some cases patients may have a strong reaction.

The physician may also order a blood test.
What are the treatment options for latex allergy?
There is no current treatment available to desensitize someone that is allergic to latex. In other words, there is no way to prevent an allergic reaction if somebody is allergic to latex and comes into contact with it.

Allergic reactions are treated with antihistamines, adrenaline, and steroids.

The most effective way to treat this type of allergy is to avoid products containing latex. Patients should learn how to identify and stay away from products that might contain latex. There are other substances that can be used to substitute latex, such as polymers (nitrile, SBR, Butyl, Vitron) and synthetic elastic, such as elastane or neoprene.

Powder-free latex gloves - a study carried out at The Medical College of Wisconsin found that the best way to prevent allergic sensitization to latex is to stop the usage of powdered latex gloves. By doing so, they reduced the allergen in the air and in air ducts at two hospitals, and effectively prevented sensitization to latex in hospital employees at both institutions. (Link to article)

Unfortunately, makers of latex-containing products are not legally required to mention on their labels which chemicals were used in the manufacturing process. Products made from natural rubber containing other emulsions seem to have a very low potential for causing sensitization.

In some cases, the patients' sensitivity is so heightened that replacement of Latex-containing products with non-latex ones may still result in a reaction. This is because the latex-free ones are manufactured in the same facility as the Latex-containing products, and there are traces of latex still about. Those cases are comparable to food allergy sufferers (peanuts, nuts...) who are unable to consume other produce manufactured in the same plant.

Some products are labeled "safe latex" by the manufacturer. This indicates lower proportions of natural latex. However, they can still cause latex allergy. Patients should beware of such labeling.

Written by Christian Nordqvist

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