What is latex allergy?
Also known as rubber, latex is a product obtained from the sap of a tree and then treated with heat and chemicals to obtain latex, which is to be distinguished from plastic, which is obtained from petroleum.
As such, a person is said to be allergic to latex when he/she has symptoms after direct or indirect contact with latex. By direct contact we mean the person who touches latex objects or breathes air in which particles from objects containing latex float.
Indirect contact means, for example, that the allergic person touches objects that have previously been in contact with latex, for example by eating food that has been handled by someone wearing latex gloves.
Symptoms of latex allergy
The symptomatology of latex allergy does not differ much from the rest of allergies, since it does not have exclusive symptoms. Normally, the allergy appears shortly after the contact between skin and latex, being sometimes almost instantaneous.
Thus, the most common symptoms of this type of allergy are grouped in the following:
- Skin: they are affectations to the dermis, such as urticaria, inflammations or edemas.
- Respiratory: the most common are asthma, rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
- Generalized: anaphylaxis, shock, blood pressure drops.
What are the causes of latex allergy?
Latex, as a natural product, contains different components, including proteins, which are the ones that can cause allergies. These can be released and come into contact with the skin or be released and remain floating in the air and can be deposited in the allergic body or be breathed in by the allergic person. The non-allergic person may touch latex and carry latex particles on his/her skin or clothes and transmit them.
The allergic person is not born with this problem, but it appears with repeated contact with a product containing latex, and it may take months or years to appear.
Can it be prevented?
As a general rule, there is no specific way to prevent the allergic reaction, but the simplest way would be to try to avoid the product that produces the allergic reaction.
Special care should be taken when visiting health facilities, as well as when having sexual intercourse, avoiding condoms made of latex, as they may cause itching or inflammation in the penis and stronger symptoms in the vagina.
There are also foods to avoid, such as chestnuts, bananas, avocado or kiwis. Special attention should also be paid to apricots and peaches, tomatoes, pineapple, melon, figs and peanuts.
What is the treatment?
Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms and preventing a possible serious reaction. However, treatment may include antihistamines, bronchodilators, corticosteroids and injectable epinephrine.