Why Does Spina Bifida Cause Latex Allergy

What Is The Treatment For A Latex Allergy

There is no cure for a latex allergy, but you can take steps to prevent your child from exposure to latex.

• Alert others to your childs latex allergy. Have your child wear a medical identification bracelet telling others that he or she has a latex allergy. This lets healthcare providers know that they need to avoid using latex when they care for your child. Contact your childs healthcare providers including the dentist and school or daycare nurse. Have them note in your childs file that your child has a latex allergy.

• Carry an allergy kit. The kit should include:

• Injectable epinephrine, which can stop an allergic reaction. Your childs healthcare provider will give you a prescription for it.

• Non-latex surgical gloves, which you can wear or give to others to wear if they must care for your child.

• A note from your childs healthcare provider stating that your child has a latex allergy.

• A complete list of medicines your child takes.

What Causes Latex Allergic Reactions

During an IgE-mediated allergic reaction, your bodyâs immune system overreacts to a substance that isnât harmful to most people. Your immune system tries to protect you by releasing a chemical called histamine into your bloodstream. Histamine causes symptoms of an allergic reaction. You may experience hives, runny nose and trouble breathing.

An allergic reaction to latex can happen when you touch or come into contact with latex products. Your immune system may also react if you breathe in tiny latex particles in the air. You may not have a reaction the first time youâre exposed to latex. With each exposure, your allergic reactions may get worse.

What Is A Latex Allergy

A latex allergy is a reaction to natural rubber latex, a substance that comes from the sap of the rubber tree . Many products are made with natural rubber latex, including rubber exam gloves, balloons and condoms. Reactions to latex range from mild to severe and can even be fatal.

People with latex allergies can have an allergic reaction when they inhale latex particles or come into physical contact with latex. Symptoms of a reaction to latex include skin irritation, rash, hives, runny nose and difficulty breathing. There is no cure for a latex allergy. People with this condition should avoid products with latex and consider the use of a med-alert bracelet.

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Protecting Children With Spina Bifida From Latex Allergy Reactions

Parents must make sure their healthcare providers are taking a latex-free environment seriously. If providers do not know if the medical products they use are latex-free, they probably arent taking the issues seriously enough. In the age of COVID-19, more people are wearing gloves to perform routine activities. Parents should consider whether they are bringing products with latex dust into the home.

Parents should be aware of potential food and nut cross-reactivity with latex. If children seem to be having a sensitivity to a food, consider the possibility of cross-reactivity carefully. Certain food avoidance strategies may be necessary . Children and adults with spina bifida may need to be tested periodically for latex allergy by an allergist or other qualified health care professional.

Once children are old enough, consider making diphenhydramine and epinephrine available in case of a reaction. School nurses should be made aware of the potential for a serious reactionparents should ask about the schools anaphylaxis preparedness plan.

Can I Prevent An Allergic Reaction To Latex

There is no way to prevent a latex allergy, but you may be able to avoid an allergic reaction. If youâre allergic to latex, you should avoid products that contain latex. Before a medical procedure or dental work, tell your providers about your allergy. Ask them to use latex-free gloves and equipment.

When ordering from a restaurant, if you have a severe latex allergy, ask the person who prepares your food to wear latex-free gloves.

Many everyday household items, medical equipment and clothing contain latex. Itâs essential to read labels carefully. You should avoid products that contain latex, including:

• Parts of clothing and shoes, such as elastic in underwear, raincoats and rain boots, and the soles of sneakers or other shoes.
• Items around the house, including rubber bands, carpet backing, and some toys and bandages.
• Personal care items like sanitary napkins, condoms and diaphragms.
• Pacifiers and nipples for baby bottles.
• Some types of makeup, face paint and masks used for costumes.

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When Your Child Has A Latex Allergy

An allergy is an extreme sensitivity to a certain substance . Your child has a latex allergy if he or she is sensitive to natural rubber latex. This allergy is a common problem among children who need repeated surgeries or medical procedures. Children with spina bifida are especially at risk of developing a latex allergy. If your child has a latex allergy, the best way to prevent symptoms is to avoid latex. Follow the tips on this sheet and any instructions given by your childs healthcare provider.

Areas For Future Research

As the total volume of randomized controlled or population studies about latex allergies in spina bifida remain minimal, the guideline recommendations for each of the above categories emerged primarily by consensus of experts in allergy/immunology, spina bifida clinical care, and family insight. Clearly, there remain many questions and multiple opportunities for future research endeavors .

The Latex Allergy Workgroup offered a number of suggestions going forward. Examples include:

• Provide updated measures on the true incidence and prevalence of latex allergy among people with spina bifida and among others with frequent exposure to latex products for comparison.
• Conduct descriptive studies of people with spina bifida who turn positive, addressing questions about immunity, genetic differences, exposure histories, etc.
• Undertake animal model studies on the clinical impact of latex powder exposure to increase knowledge about the risk of latex gloves in the community.
• How can we best come to consensus on most effective preventive screening protocols?
• How can we become more informed about the realities and the extent of risk in cross-reactivity of latex allergy and certain foods?

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How Do Doctors Diagnose A Latex Allergy

If you think you may be allergic to latex, see a board-certified allergist to confirm the allergy. To diagnose a latex allergy, the doctor will ask you about your medical history and do a physical exam. If they think you have a latex allergy, they may order an allergy skin test or blood test. Your doctor will compare your test results with your history and physical exam to diagnose a latex allergy.

What Is A Skin Prick Test

This common test might be a little uncomfortable, but it isnât painful. Your provider puts a small amount of latex on your skin and scratches or pricks the skin with a needle. Scratching the skin allows a bit of latex to get under the surface.

If youâre allergic to latex, the area will become red and itchy. You may develop raised welts called wheals . The skin irritation and wheals show that your immune system is reacting. It usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes for a reaction to occur.

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How Is Latex Allergy Treated

The best treatment for latex allergy is avoidance. If you have severe latex allergy reaction you should:

• Wear medical alert identification
• Carry an epinephrine auto-injector for emergency treatment

Health care workers with a history of latex sensitivity who must wear gloves should stop wearing latex gloves. Their co-workers should also not use latex gloves, but rather switch to synthetic gloves.

Patients with latex allergy are at risk of asthma on exposure to latex-containing aerosols. They should try to avoid areas where powdered latex gloves or other latex products are used.

How Does A Latex Allergy Develop

• Latex protein is the allergen that causes a latex allergy. The more exposure that your child has to latex protein, the more likely that an allergy will develop.

• Foods such as avocados and kiwis and the others listed above have proteins similar to those in natural rubber latex. An allergy to these foods may make a child more likely to develop a latex allergy.

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How Can Latex Allergy Be Prevented

If you have latex allergy you should avoid direct contact with all products and devices that contain latex. Also avoid food that causes an allergic reaction. Latex allergy problems during dental, medical or surgical procedures can be prevented by warning health care providers about latex allergy before any test or treatment. Latex allergic people can receive medical or dental care in a latex-safe area. Hospitals and clinics that use only low protein latex gloves and non-latex gloves have experienced dramatic declines in new cases of latex allergy.

Allergists can provide latex-allergic people with information and assistance to help them avoid products which may contain latex. The American Latex Allergy Association also has additional information.

With the right treatment plan, youll understand how to manage your allergies, so you can be in control.

Im not afraid to go out there and have fun. I control my allergies. They dont control me.

Gerri

What Are The Types Of Latex Reactions

There are two main types of reactions to natural rubber latex:

• Immunoglobulin E mediated

IgE allergic reactions to latex can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis .

Contact Dermatitis

Dermatitis means skin inflammation. There are two types of contact dermatitis that can occur with a latex allergy:

• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Irritant contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is a type of allergy to chemicals used to make latex. This is not a reaction to rubber proteins. It usually does not cause anaphylaxis.

These chemicals can cause contact dermatitis 24 to 48 hours after exposure. This type of dermatitis can spread to other areas of your body, if touched. Symptoms usually go away spontaneously, but you may need medical treatment if they continue.

Irritant contact dermatitis is a common reaction to natural rubber latex, but it is not an allergy. Irritant contact dermatitis is a red, itchy rash that breaks out where latex has touched your skin. It appears 12 to 24 hours after contact.

Irritant contact dermatitis can be the result of:

• Frequent handwashing and incomplete drying
• Use of hand sanitizers
• Friction irritation from glove powder

Many people who develop an IgE-mediated latex allergy will have contact dermatitis first. If you have contact dermatitis to latex, it may be a warning that you could develop a latex allergy later. Talk with your allergist if contact with latex and products that contain latex cause you to have contact dermatitis.

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Vaccines And Immunizations Are Potential Sources Of Latex Exposure If The Syringes Or Rubber Stoppers In Vials Contain Natural Rubber Latex The Cdc Centers For Disease Control Has A List Of All Vaccines And Whether They Contain Latex Or Not Try To Choose Vaccines That Are Latex

In situations where there are no latex-free options, the CDC states that the vaccine may be given if a person has not had a severe reaction to latex. If a person has had an anaphylactic reaction, the benefits and risks must be weighed and if the benefits outweigh the risks, the vaccine can be given with the following cautions: the provider should be prepared to treat patients who are having an allergic reaction.

Its important to differentiate, though, that not all latex products cause reactions. Synthetic latex, such as whats found in latex paint, does not trigger the symptoms of natural rubber latex allergy.

Bananas and kiwis may cause an allergic reaction in people who have Spina Bifida. Who knew?

Foods that May Cause Allergic Reactions for People Who Have Spina Bifida

Suzanne McKee goes on to explain that Confusion often exists about latex allergy and cross-reactions with some food and plant proteins. The proteins in natural rubber latex are the culprits in causing an allergic reaction and some foods/plants have proteins that the body may react to in similar fashion.

How Children With Spina Bifida Can Avoid Developing Latex Allergy

Avoiding latex is a must. People with spina bifida should not touching anything with latex protein inhalation any powder that contains latex. Fortunately, most healthcare settings have dramatically reduced the number of products that contain natural rubber. Unfortunately, latex is still present in healthcare facilities. Each additional procedure potentially increases a childs risk. Since it is unwise and potentially dangerous to avoid health care for fear of developing a latex allergy, the goal should be to minimize exposure.

Of course, it is relatively easy to avoid latex gloves, but adhesives in tapes and bandages may not list whether they contain latex. In fact, medical tape and adhesives are perhaps the most important potential hidden source of latex allergens. With dressing changes and repeated taping, the adhesive in medical tape is a prime driver of latex allergy.

Hy-Tape is a multi-purpose, high quality medical tape that is completely latex-free. The adhesive is zinc oxide-based and the backing does not contain latex or latex proteins. It holds firmly, but also releases cleanly and without traumatizing the skin. Hy-Tape is an excellent choice for children and adults with spina bifida.

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How Is A Latex Allergy Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms and exposure to latex. You should share information about other allergies you have, including reactions to foods. If you have a family history of allergies, tell your provider.

Your provider may order a blood test to check if youâre allergic to latex. Providers also use a skin prick test to diagnose a latex allergy.

Foods That May Cause Allergic Reactions For People With Spina Bifida

Suzanne states, Confusion often exists about latex allergy and cross-reactions with some food and plant proteins. The proteins in natural rubber latex are the culprits in causing an allergic reaction and some foods/plants have proteins that the body may react to in similar fashion.

Foods such as bananas, avocados, kiwis, and chesnut have a higher probability of being cross-contaminated with latex. Be sure to check out the original post for a detailed list of foods that could be cross-contaminated.

Suzanne says that she does not advise her patients to avoid these foods but rather to be aware and educate themselves should a reaction occur.

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Who Is Likely To Have A Latex Allergy

Certain groups of people tend to have a greater risk of developing a latex allergy. These groups include:

• People who have had many surgeries or medical procedures for example, children with spina bifida or people who frequently use catheters containing latex
• Health care workers and other people who often wear latex gloves
• People with other allergies, such as allergic rhinitis and food allergies

New cases of latex allergy arent as common now. Rates were higher in the 1980s and 90s when health care workers used latex products more often. Now many health care facilities use non-latex gloves and products.

Know The Symptoms Of Spina Bifida Allergies

The symptoms and reactions to different products or foods can vary significantly between individuals, even those that are related.

The Spina Bifida Association shares these symptoms to be aware of:

• Skin redness, hives or rash
• Wheezing and shortness of breath

The most serious allergic reaction to latex is anaphylaxis, a type of shock. An anaphylactic response to latex is a medical emergency.

This post is sponsored by Cure Medical. Cure Catheters are created especially for you! Our products are not made with scary chemicals like DEHP, BPA or natural rubber latex. We have a vested interest in the quality, safety, comfort, and convenience of our intermittent catheters as our founders health depends on them, too. Try a Cure for free today by requesting here! Youll be glad you did.

Curated By: Whitney Bailey

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How Common Are Latex Allergies

Latex allergies are rare. Less than 1% of people in the United States are allergic to latex. Latex allergies have decreased in recent years because more hospitals now use latex-free and powder-free gloves.

Anyone can develop a latex allergy, but some people have a higher risk of developing the condition. Risk factors for latex allergy include:

• Repeated exposure to latex: Frequent contact with latex can cause your body to overreact and develop an allergic reaction. People who regularly wear latex gloves are more likely to develop an allergy to latex. Healthcare providers, dentists and people who work in the beauty industry have a higher risk.
• Frequent surgical procedures: Children and adults who have had several surgeries have an increased risk of developing a latex allergy. Children with spina bifida are especially likely to have a latex allergy because treatment for the condition includes multiple medical procedures and surgeries at a young age. Medical supplies for these procedures often contain latex.
• History of allergies: Other allergies, including allergic rhinitis , often occur along with a latex allergy. People who are allergic to latex may be allergic to certain foods, including bananas, kiwis, avocados and chestnuts. The connection between latex allergies and food allergies is called latex-food syndrome.

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