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About Latex Allergies
The first report of allergic reactions to rubber appeared in 1979. Why have some people become sensitive to latex? The answer is not yet well understood. The use of latex medical products like surgical gloves has increased tremendously during the 1980s in order to reduce possible exposure of health care personnel to infected patients or body fluids.
This sudden increase in demand for latex during the last two decades, especially gloves, has meant that new manufacturers have emerged, and that new industrial processes have been evolved, and perhaps even new, or subtly different, sources of raw material have been used. Rubber products manufactured today may have higher concentrations of allergens (than those of years ago) as a result of some, or all, of these changes. Raw "latex" describes either the sap of the Brazilian rubber tree (Hervea brasiliensis), or products made by dipping forms into the sap (gloves, balloons, condoms, etc.). Allergic reactions caused by latex are an immune system response to the 'proteins' that are naturally present (about 1%) in the liquid latex. Which particular protein (or proteins) is the problem is still unclear; most often, one with molecular weight of 14,600 has been found to be a favorite catalyst.
The industrial processes of rubber vulcanization tend to alter the natural proteins within the substance. At least one allergen has been found in latex gloves that was not initially present in the rubber sap. The normal source material for medical products & equipment is "ammoniated" latex; the processes include heating to 130 C for 30 minutes in the final phase of glove manufacture. The allergens can be 'leached' from the finished product, and are generally found in the corn starch powder present in today's medical-use gloves. This powder becomes airborne easily, and inhalation may be one source of contact with latex.
Imagine creating an operating room (and a surgical operation process) that is completely without the use of latex products. Some American hospitals now offer latex-free operating rooms & procedures. Also, some latex products may be much more of a potential problem than are others. In medicine, gloves are the biggest single problem. For some individuals, health care workers or patients, any contact with latex can be life-threatening.
This sudden increase in demand for latex during the last two decades, especially gloves, has meant that new manufacturers have emerged, and that new industrial processes have been evolved, and perhaps even new, or subtly different, sources of raw material have been used. Rubber products manufactured today may have higher concentrations of allergens (than those of years ago) as a result of some, or all, of these changes. Raw "latex" describes either the sap of the Brazilian rubber tree (Hervea brasiliensis), or products made by dipping forms into the sap (gloves, balloons, condoms, etc.). Allergic reactions caused by latex are an immune system response to the 'proteins' that are naturally present (about 1%) in the liquid latex. Which particular protein (or proteins) is the problem is still unclear; most often, one with molecular weight of 14,600 has been found to be a favorite catalyst.
The industrial processes of rubber vulcanization tend to alter the natural proteins within the substance. At least one allergen has been found in latex gloves that was not initially present in the rubber sap. The normal source material for medical products & equipment is "ammoniated" latex; the processes include heating to 130 C for 30 minutes in the final phase of glove manufacture. The allergens can be 'leached' from the finished product, and are generally found in the corn starch powder present in today's medical-use gloves. This powder becomes airborne easily, and inhalation may be one source of contact with latex.
Imagine creating an operating room (and a surgical operation process) that is completely without the use of latex products. Some American hospitals now offer latex-free operating rooms & procedures. Also, some latex products may be much more of a potential problem than are others. In medicine, gloves are the biggest single problem. For some individuals, health care workers or patients, any contact with latex can be life-threatening.
What is latex sensitivity?
There are three different types of reactions to natural rubber latex. They are(1) irritation, (2) delayed hypersensitivity (allergic contact dermatitis), and (3) immediate hypersensitivity (anaphylactic symptoms).Irritation is typically classed as a 'non-allergic' condition. The irritated skin may be dry & crusty, and the symptoms naturally resolve when contact with the latex ceases.
Delayed hypersensitivity presents itself as skin becoming dry, crusty and leathery with eruptions appearing as sores and blisters. This response occurs between 6 and 48 hours after initial contact. Repeated latex exposure causes the skin condition to expand beyond the area of contact. Many people with delayed hypersensitivity have a history of atrophy (allergy, dermatitis, or asthma).
Immediate hypersensitivity is an allergic response mediated by IgE (an antibody found in blood circulation). On the skin, this can present hives that migrate beyond the point of contact with latex. Systemic allergic symptoms can include itching eyes, swelling of lips or tongue, breathlessness, dizziness, abdominal pain, nausea, hypotension, shock, and potentially even death. These symptoms are likely to result from a massive release of 'histamine' at a local or whole body level. This condition results from binding of the latex allergens to the sensitized receptors on mast cells.
