What is a Latex Allergy?
Latex Garments are produced from Natural Rubber Latex as opposed to butyl - or petroleum-based synthetic rubbers.
Natural rubber latex (NRL) is a milky fluid obtained from the Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is widely grown in South East Asia.
Latex allergy, or hypersensitivity, occurs when the body's immune system reacts to proteins found in NRL.
There is a particular protein found within NRL that makes the material so stretchy, it is this protein that some people are allergic to.
Some individuals have an antibody called Immunoglobin E (IgE). A reaction to latex occurs when IgE comes into contact with the protein in NRL; these reactions tend to be the most common and cause more severe allergic reactions to latex.
NRL is an integral part of thousands of everyday consumer and healthcare items. More than 40,000 products used in homes, schools and medical settings contain latex. Examples of such items can be found in the lists shown below.
Symptoms of the immediate type of allergy produced range from rashes, itchy or runny eyes or nose, sneezing and coughing to chest tightness, shortness of breath and anaphylactic shock.
People who are allergic to latex may also react to certain plant based foods which can contain proteins, these are similar enough to latex proteins to react with our allergy-producing antibodies to latex. See the cross reactivity list below. All lists/symptoms provided are intended as illustrative, not comprehensive.
The onus is on you, the consumer, to ensure that you do not have this problem prior to making purchase.
Model: Masuimi Max. Photography by Morat, on location in Los Angeles, California, USA.
There are two types of latex allergy:
Type 1 Immediate, and Type 4 Delayed.
Symptoms will vary depending on which one you experience.
Type 1 Immediate symptoms can include (occur up to 30 minutes after exposure to NRL)
Type 4 Delayed symptoms can include (occur 48 - 72 hours after exposure)
N.B. All symtoms provided are intended as illustrative, not comprehensive.
NRL can cause allergic reactions to Latex. More than 40,000 products used in homes, schools and medical settings, common examples include:
N.B. All lists provided are intended as illustrative, not comprehensive.
Some people with latex allergies react to certain foods that contain proteins which are similar enough to those found in latex. These can include the following examples:
N.B. All lists provided are intended as illustrative, not comprehensive.
