Why am I allergic to latex?
Latex allergy has become much more frequent is recent years and it's received a lot of publicity of late. Part of the reason is simply because we use more latex nowadays. Latex is used in manufacturing rubber gloves, catheters, wet suits, and all manner of things. There's a lot of latex out there. Some people who are exposed to latex frequently such as nurses who must wear rubber gloves, physicians, surgical patients who have had a catheter implanted and have to wear one permanently, people who work with latex paints, can develop a latex allergy. Latex allergy can show itself as anything from a local rash or a contact dermatitis, to shortness of breath, congestion, asthma symptoms or hives. It's a frustrating allergy because latex is hard to avoid and it's also frustrating because if someone is again a person who has to come into contact with latex on a daily basis and they develop a latex allergy, it can be a difficult lifestyle change. A nurse working in an operating room who has been working with latex and latex materials for twenty years can suddenly find she has to begin using latex-free gloves or avoid taking part in the installation of catheters or using rubber tubing. The diagnosis of latex allergy can be made by history, which is usually the way it's done. One of the tests you can do is simply put on a latex glove or cut the finger off a latex glove and wear it for a couple of days to see if you develop a rash. There's a blood test and a skin test which can be helpful for the diagnosis of latex allergy but they're not totally accurate. they are not totally sensitive tests. So when one puts together the history, the skin test, the blood test and the relief of symptoms when the patient is no longer exposed to the latex environment, then we can tell them “avoid latex”.
