Living With a Latex Allergy
Oct.06, 2008
Health and Fitness
Tags : Adhesive Tape, Allergen, allergy, allergy cure, allergy drug, allergy relief, allergy sympotm, Blood Pressure Cuffs, cat allergy, Disposable Syringes, dog allergy, Healthcare Industry, Healthcare Workers, Hypersensitive, Latex Allergy, Latex Particles, National Institute For Occupational Safety, National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health, Nausea And Vomiting, Occupational Safety And Health, Pencil Erasers, Rubber Tree, Runny Nose, Shortness Of Breath, Skin Rash, Surgical Gloves, Watery Eyes, Wheelchair Tires
October 8th, 2008 at 4:24 am
“Your readers should know that the onset of latex protein allergy of Type I hypersensitivity in the healthcare settings in the 1990s was due to the use of an older generation of inadequately processed latex gloves which had no control of their level of residual proteins, some of which could trigger off sensitization and allergenic reactions in certain sensitive individuals. It should also be noted that Type I allergy can also be brought about by proteins from many other daily encountered sources, such as foods like water melon, bananas, peanuts, kiwis, potatoes, some seafood just to name a few.
Advancement in latex glove manufacturing technologies has today led to the production of an improved generation of low protein latex gloves that are low-risk to allergy. As a matter of fact, the benefits of these improved gloves have recently been acknowledged by a number of renowned clinical researchers in latex allergy - that because of the vast reduction of the allergen content of the low-protein latex gloves, the incidences of sensitization and allergic reactions in hospitals have been significantly diminished. For latex protein allergic individuals, it is recommended that they should opt for latex protein free products.
Although there are many consumer products which are derived from natural rubber latex, it should be noted that only products made directly from the liquid latex, particularly gloves, were the cause of allergy concern. Many others made from the dry rubber materials, such as tires, toys, and erasers etc. have undetectable residual protein content and have been shown to exhibit negligible allergenicity. For further information, you may like to refer to website: http://www.latexglove.info.
Type IV allergy of delayed hypersensitivity, on the other hand, is not due to natural rubber latex, it is caused by the presence of certain chemicals used in processing of many gloves or products, which can be latex and non-latex!”