Latex Allergy Myths & Truths: What the Evidence Reveals

Latex Allergy is a very complex allergy, because everyone’s experience is unique. Some people have severe reactions while others only experience mild reactions. While there is no cure for latex allergy, prevention of symptoms is possible. The three keys are awareness, avoidance and education. Join Dr. Kevin Kelly as he outlines a better understanding of scientific evidence so patients can learn to live a full, active life with latex allergy.

[Msqueen]

Last night I was at work and one of our customers was a mom who had survived breast cancer and she had a latex allergy. She was with her family at the prize counter and her son was picking out prizes, and there were a lot of prizes the kid wanted but couldn’t have because they might have latex and if they did, the mom would go into anaphylaxis. One example was the Chuck E. Cheese Inflatable Tennis Set, which the boy had enough tickets for and really wanted, but then the mom said, “No, because that might have latex, which would make Mommy not be able to breathe.” I asked my boss if it did have latex, and my boss said that she doesn’t know for sure but would assume it might. I don’t know, meeting this lady had a profound effect on me.

[j.t.creations]

As a child I grew up with Bronchial Asthma. But it disappeared after moving out of my Mom's house. I also had problems with band aids, Bananas and tomatoes. Latex allergy was NEVER mentioned. Unfortunately I never realized it was my underlying problem. In the past 10 years after a large exposure to an old latex rubber underpadding that had turned to dust from a carpet I removed and inhaled copious amounts my latex allergy it went from a minor inconvenience to a completely life destroying complex. I can no longer wear socks or underwear, I've become hypersensitized to all vegetable and fruits, I can only eat meats and drink water or gross sodas. No juices at all. No coffee. No tea. These all provoke an instant reaction of pounding head, stiff neck, dizziness, burning tingling lips, swollen and cracked dry sinuses, swollen throat, stomach pain and the resulting drop in blood pressure (to 80 and 50 everytime). Sadly I live in a backwards area of Pennsylvania now and have not only NOT gotten proper treatment I was laughed at by the Dr who then prescribed meds that made it all even worse. My life has now become an isolated hell. What you really need to address and educate people on is that Latex Allergy and Hypersensitivity is NOT a static condition. It's cumulative and progressive. With every subsequent exposure it ramps up further and further. The reactions become more and more sever and the amount of the pathogen needed to trigger these intense responses becomes less and less. I didn't know. Now I suffer everyday, cannot leave the house and have had no medical help to assist me as this has literally taken me from a highly active person to a terrified person who cannot leave his home and has reactions literally 24 hrs a day. I miss my life. I miss eating food. I miss the freedom to touch things. Most of all I miss the compassion of a medical community that here whare I am, has turned it's back on me leaving me to die.

[pattyhubbard]

Interesting but not much I was unaware of before. I wish I could have been on for the live version. I was given a patch test when I had my first big reaction to latex in a PALS class that sent me to my own ER bordering on intubation. When I went for the patch test the allergist at that time did not believe in latex allergies. He placed both sets of strips from the T.R.U. Test on my back and within 6 hours I was in the ER with a bigeminy heart rhythm. Once Ace (the ER doc) realized the patches were still on my back he ripped them off. I spent 2 days in patient receiving Epi, Benadryl, Pepcid and other meds. Was discharged home but unknown to all of us my heart rate remained in bigeminy for a year before it was discovered when I was pursuing disability. I had to have 3, yes three pacing centers burned out in my heart to return a normal rhythm. I have never had a single problem with my heart before that test. My reactions to latex escalated badly after the botched patch patch. I develop hives badly with exposure to certain substances especially if I try to peel potatoes, tire dust gets to me badly, rubber soled shoes, even rubberized kitchen appliances burn my hands. I have to wear respirators when shopping and depending on the store either a half face or an entire face cover. I not only have asthma I actually croup with a bad exposure. I can no longer be given Epi at all. None so I am basically home bound with limited places to go safe for me. I would like to have asked his opinion about the TRU Test patch testing being done with both strips at the same time. I worked in the ER for 9 1/2 years. When I started I did not even react to Poison Ivy, oak or sumac. Suddenly I became allergic to neoprene first, followed by Poison Ivy, then one night while cleaning a bit of water got under the edge of my gloves while cleaning, Within 15 minutes I had gone from a slight burn to a blister and as we all watched the blister grew and broke open within 1 hour. Nothing else happened other than as soon as I got to work I'd become stuffy like a cold. 2 months later we were doing PALS and the instructor tossed the baby faces (latex covered with cornstarch) around the room to each person. I was trying to finish my test, my face was burning and my eyes felt swollen but I was going to finish that test. My hubby could not get me to stop so he went and got the woman in charge of our continuing education. Kitty forced me to my feet (no wheelchair available) and walked me the 150 feet to the ER and by the time we got to the final doors she and Mike were almost carrying me. But I was told I did not have a reaction to the latex. Oh no I was fine - The anesthesiologist was setting up the vent but I was not going to allow that to happen, 2 hours of treatments I was allowed to go home but only because both my hubby and I were medical people and would know if I needed to come back. I was always curious as to whether the placement of both strips was appropriate and it that could have made me more susceptible to the sudden increase in my sensitization to latex and other chemicals. I seem to be both latex reactive and a bit of MCS. Can they co-exist? Or can they feed off each other. Next time you have one of these on latex I will be sure to be on the live feed. Thank you very much.