Latex Allergy
Introduction:
A person who develops allergic symptoms when he comes in contact with products derived from natural rubber latex. Then the person can be suffering from latex allergy. Natural rubber latex comes from a liquid in tropical rubber trees.
This liquid is processed to make rubber products such as balloons, baby bottle nipples, gloves, rubber bands, condoms, adhesive tapes and bandages. The protein in rubber can cause allergic reaction in some people.
Signs and Symptoms:
Latex allergy can be mild or severe depending upon the sensitivity of the person.
- Symptoms due to direct contact with latex: This rash occurs most often in people who wear protective gloves, such as dental and health care workers. It makes your skin appear red, dry and cracked.
- Allergic contact dermatitis: Reaction to latex or chemical additives used during manufacturing process causes a skin rash when it comes in contact with latex. Rash usually occurs 24 to 48 hours after parts of skin come in contact with latex.
- A life-threatening allergic reaction can also occur in a latex sensitive person.
- Exposure to latex may cause immediate reactions such as redness, itching, sneezing and wheezing when your immune system reacts to protein present in natural rubber latex.
- Symptoms may occur due to exposure to airborne latex particles in the air which fly into the air when the gloves are taken off. Latex gloves are coated with powder, the latex protein particles stick to the powder and fly into the air when gloves are put on or removed.
Signs and Symptoms are:
- Stuffy nose
- Itchy watery eyes
- Rash
- Cough
- Difficulty in breathing
A life-threatening allergic reaction can also occur in a latex sensitive person. Anaphylactic reactions develop immediately after latex exposure in highly sensitive people and cause the airways (bronchi) to constrict, making it difficult to breathe. Blood pressure may drop, making you feel dizzy or lose consciousness. Seek emergency medical care if you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction. Treatment and Management:
You can reduce your risk of reaction by avoiding direct contact with latex. Try to find out which products in your environment contain latex. Then, find substitutes you can use for those products. Try to avoid breathing in latex particles from powdered gloves.
If you are a health care worker or a patient, you should wear powder-free latex gloves or non-latex gloves and also people around you.
Always tell doctors that you are allergic to latex. Talk to your doctor about getting a prescription. Always carry non-latex gloves with you all the time for use by emergency personnel if you need medical attention.
Use powder-free gloves.
Role of Homeopathy:
- The role of homeopathy lies in the fact that it can bring back the lost balance in the human body when it is in a diseased state.
- Homeopathic remedies act at the psycho neuro endocrinal axis. In other words it stimulates the human body which in turn will take care of the disease.
- The right homeopathic remedy prescribed on the totality of the symptoms will help in relieving the allergic symptoms. It will also improve the overall health of the person.