Latex Allergy
Sensitization and allergy to natural rubber latex are two stages of the same pathology, commonly known as latex allergy.
Latex allergy is a non-communicable, chronic, acquired, progressive, evolving, non-reversible and potentially fatal disease. It is also considered an occupational disease and an environmental disease of anthropogenic origin. To date, there is no proven safe or effective curative treatment, but it is possible – and very important – to prevent it.
The only way to prevent latex allergy is to minimize exposure to this material. Once diagnosed, its treatment consists of strict avoidance of it.
Anyone can develop this disease – it is estimated that 6% of the general population would be sensitized – but the chances of suffering from it increase the greater the exposure to latex proteins, early and/or repeatedly, through various routes: cutaneous, sero-mucosal, inhalation, blood and digestive. For this reason, latex allergy is more frequent in certain groups such as people with neural tube defects (spina bifida / MMC) and abdominal wall defects, people with congenital genitourinary and cardiac malformations, people with cleft lip-alveolar-palatine, people with a history of multiple invasive procedures and multiple operations; health personnel and those in other areas who use latex gloves on a massive and frequent basis, acquiring latex allergy as an occupational disease; the institutionalized child and elderly population; people with food allergies and/or atopy; in these cases, the prevalence ranges between 11 and 75%, depending on the population studied.
Latex allergy is a global public health problem, already addressed and, in many cases, resolved, by developed countries for many years. Likewise, in countries where management and prevention guidelines are not developed, a clear increase in prevalence and incidence is observed in the most exposed and vulnerable populations, as well as a growing risk of sensitization due to overstimulation in the general population, due to the use, in various areas, of articles made and/or manipulated with this highly allergenic substance.
There are four patterns of reaction to exposure to natural latex and its associated particles.
- Irritant contact dermatitis: Non-immunological, LOCALIZED reaction, commonly caused by sweating or irritation due to contact with medical products.
- Type IV hypersensitivity (or CELLULAR or DELAYED or Allergic contact dermatitis): NON-IgE-mediated reaction, in which the contact area is infiltrated by T lymphocytes, 24 to 48 hours after the contact. It is caused by chemical additives added to the latex formula (of any latex or plastic) in the manufacturing process. Although it can cause severe symptoms, it is not fatal. It can precede the development of Type I hypersensitivity or occur in patients who have already developed it.
- Type I hypersensitivity (or DEPENDENT or IMMEDIATE IgE or Latex allergy itself): Reaction mediated by specific IgE antibodies that can develop in people previously exposed and sensitized to natural latex proteins. They usually occur within 5 to 30 minutes after exposure to an organism previously exposed and sensitized to latex proteins. It includes all manifestations of IgE-mediated allergies, of varying degrees of severity, local or systemic, latex asthma and anaphylaxis, which can lead to anaphylactic shock. It is potentially fatal.
- Occupational latex asthma: This is a type of asthma related to the work environment, described in employees exposed to latex in the work environment. This reaction is also mediated by IgE, which is exacerbated by air stimulation and becomes chronic.
About Latex Allergy
- Prevention of IgE sensitization to latex in health care workers after reduction of antigen exposures. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine – Kelly, K, Wang, M.L., Klanick, M. and Petsonk, E.
- Latex allergy – Wiley Online Library – S. Gawchik
- Latex allergy: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis – UpToDate® – R. Hamilton
- The latex story – Chemical Immunology and Allergy – M. Raulf
- Latex Allergy: An Emerging Problem
- Latex Allergy and Occupational Asthma in Health Care Workers: Adverse Outcomes
- American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology (ACAAI) – Latex Allergy
Guidance and Reporting
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- MedWatch – Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Adverse Event Reporting Form
Patient and Practitioner Resources
Latex and Vaccines
- Vaccinations and Latex Allergy
- Latex in Vaccine Packaging – CDC
- Influenza vaccines — United States, 2018-19 influenza season
School Resources
- Latex-free School Product List
- Latex-free Sports Equipment List
- Latex Allergy Article List
- Latex Safe at School
- New York State – Bus drivers allowed to carry Epipens
- The Bursting Reality of Latex Allergies
Allergy & Asthma Network Webinars
- Latex Allergies – Addressing Barriers to Emergency Anaphylaxis Care – October 2016
- Overcoming Barriers in the Real World – A Look at Clinical Issues, School Concerns and Living with Latex Allergy – October 2016
“Latex Allergy Myths & Truths: What the Evidence Reveals”
Dermatitis/Rubber Accelerators
- T.R.U.E. test – T.R.U.E. TEST® is a convenient, ready-to-use patch test for the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. Patch testing is a simple procedure to help diagnose allergic contact dermatitis and identify the causative agent(s). (Panel 2.3 will test for the Rubber Accelerators/Chemicals)
Instituting Latex Precautions
Restaurant Resources, Regulations and Guidance
Helpful Links and Resources:
- Spina Bifida Association
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
- American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
- OSHA
- ADA
- Allergy Home
- A latex-free list for makeup
- Allergy-Free Apparel
- Argentina Latex Allergy Association
Articles of Interest:
- Can Poinsettia Plants Cause Latex Allergy Reaction
- Latex Allergies: A Review of Recognition, Evaluation, Management, Prevention, Education, and Alternative Product Use
- Occupational allergies Caused By Latex – Rmaoem.org
- Latex in Cosmetics
- Current prevalence rate of latex allergy: Why it remains a problem?
- Latex: A Lingering and Lurking Safety Risk | Advisory
- Cutaneous, But Not Airway, Latex Exposure Induces Allergic Lung Inflammation and Airway Hyperreactivity in Mice