To use all functions of this page, please activate cookies in your browser.
my.bionity.com
With an accout for my.bionity.com you can always see everything at a glance – and you can configure your own website and individual newsletter.
- My watch list
- My saved searches
- My saved topics
- My newsletter
Latex allergyLatex allergy is a medical term encompassing a range of allergic reactions to natural rubber latex. Additional recommended knowledge
Types
Testing for type 1 natural rubber latex allergy is through blood testing, such as RAST (radioallergosorbent test) identifies what types of IgE proteins trigger allergic reactions. While the standard for allergen testing is the skin prick test, there is no approved skin testing reagent for latex in the United States at this time. Some other countries do have approved skin testing reagents for natural rubber latex. Some people who are allergic to latex are also allergic to clothes, shoes and other things that contain natural rubber latex - for example elastic bands, rubber gloves, condoms, pacifiers and baby-bottle nipples, balloons, cars and clothing containing natural rubber based elastic. Synthetic elastic such as elastane or neoprene do not contain the proteins that trigger type 1 reactions. Type 1 natural rubber latex allergy is caused from IgE (immune) mediated reactions to proteins found in the hevea brasiliensis tree, a type of rubber tree. Synthetic latex products do not contain the proteins from the hevea brasiliensis tree and will not cause this type of reaction. Type 4 reactions are caused by the chemicals used to process the rubber. Patch testing needs to be done to verify which type of chemical triggers the reaction. Once the chemical is identified, then the person can choose products that are not processed with that chemical. Both natural rubber and synthetic rubber products may cause type 4 reactions. Those at greatest risk
Estimates of latex sensitivity in the general population range from 0.8% to 6.5%, although not all will ever develop a noticeable allergic reaction.[citation needed] Latex and foodsA latex allergy can also cause further reactions, to food items from the latex plant groups - banana, avocado, chestnut, strawberry, soy, mangos and kiwi fruit. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that nearly 6 percent of the pediatric and adult population has some type of food allergy and up to 4 percent have an allergy to latex.[1] It can also cause reactions from foods touched by latex products in the most severe cases. There are some known cases of latex allergies being provoked from genetically modified foods such as tomatoes with latex proteins. It is also worth noting that some highly latex allergic individuals have had allergic reactions to foods that were handled or prepared by people wearing latex gloves. References
See also |
|
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Latex_allergy". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |