Latex Avoidance

Many healthcare, sports, industrial and household items contain rubber and latex.  Not all will be equally troublesome, but patients need to be aware of the possible contacts, though for most sufferers, the avoidance of all possible contact will be neither possible nor absolutely necessary.  The following list is by no means complete, but it gives an idea of the scope of the problem:

Some people with a degree of allergy which may be insufficient to cause a serious reaction may be able to use some latex products; they may be able to use some brands and not others as different companies will use varying manufacturing processes which may alter the degree to which the latex protein may provoke symptoms.  However, it is sensible to avoid contact with latex as much as possible as each contact can, in theory at least, provoke your allergy and therefore possibly increase the reaction.  People with severe allergy should not use any latex products.

Surgical Procedures

If you are allergic to latex, even though your symptoms may be only quite minor, you are still at risk from anaphylaxis if you have an operation, or if you have a medical, dental, gynaecological or other procedure where those treating you are using latex gloves, or if catheters or other products made from natural rubber latex are used.  One cause for concern is that affected healthcare workers, and especially nurses, may fear the loss of their job.  They may therefore tend not to report the mild rashes and itchiness they get when they use surgical gloves and just put up with it, playing it down in their own minds.  However, this failure to recognise that a problem exists may mean that the proper procedures are not followed if the nurse herself requires surgery and the risk of possible anaphylaxis will result.  Because of the various stresses that accompany a surgical procedure, it is possible that during an operation someone who has only previously experienced mild symptoms could have a severe reaction for the first time.

Although the advice to be vigilant about the problem and take great care is likely to cause sufferers some anxiety, they can generally be reassured that the care will be worth taking, and that no disaster is lurking just around the corner!

Latex in Hospitals, Clinics and Dental Surgeries

People with latex allergy should make sure doctors, dentists and other medical staff are aware of their allergy. It's not just latex gloves that need to be avoided; latex is also used in catheters, syringes, elasticated bandages, and protective sheets.  In all cases there are alternatives that can be used.

In view of the escalating problem arising from rubber latex glove use in hospitals, it seems obvious to ask why they are still used.  Alternatives are available, but they are far more expensive and do carry disadvantages.  Not all are as protective, and most do not have the 'feel' and sensitivity of the latex variety.  However hospitals are clearly obliged to provide alternatives for latex sensitive workers.

This policy does not, however, deal with the problem of latex-sensitive or latex-allergy prone patients.  Increasingly there is an argument to switch away from the use of latex not only in the manufacture of surgical gloves, but also the manufacture of surgical equipment and devices such as catheters.  This change is already beginning to occur, albeit rather slowly.  It may take the threat of litigation before the process speeds up!  Similarly, some hospitals still need to get round to setting up a latex-free operating theatre, although increasingly this is what some patients are going to need.

Now that non-powdered natural rubber latex gloves are readily available, it is no longer acceptable to use powdered latex gloves in areas such as operating theatres in which potentially and actually latex sensitive staff have to work.  There is some evidence that hospitals that took an early decision to use exclusively non-  powdered gloves in operating theatres have not encountered the same levels of occupational asthma arising amongst the theatre staff.

  Latex Sensitisation in the Health Care Setting - Department of Health Report

Latex in Food Preparation

An further issue relates to the use of latex in the food industry.  Food handlers who wear latex gloves when preparing or packing foods, and those who wear latex gloves (for reasons of hygiene) when preparing sandwiches are not only themselves at risk of developing latex allergy, they will be contaminating the food with latex allergens, and this may add to the list of items that might cause problems for those allergic to latex.  As yet, this is no more than a theoretical possibility, but it would be surprising if there was no problem.  Allergic reactions without apparent cause, including anaphylaxis without apparent cause, are common enough in the Allergy Clinic, and allergy to hidden latex as an occasional explanation is certainly a possibility.

The Latex Allergy Support Group is therefore trying to persuade large supermarket chains to ban the use of latex gloves from food preparation.  It is also campaigning against the use of latex adhesives in food packing.  These are used when the more usual adhesive methods would cause damage to a product.  There are reports of people reacting to these latex adhesives.  

Recommended Organisations

The Anaphylaxis Campaign
2 Clockhouse Road
Farnborough
Hampshire
GU14 7QY
www.anaphylaxis.org.uk

Latex Allergy Support Group
PO Box 36
Cheltenham
GL52 4WY
www.lasg.co.uk

www.allergybadges.co.uk