Allergy to natural rubber latex is increasingly common and serious in children and adults. Latex allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to proteins found in natural rubber latex. Latex is a milky white liquid extracted from the rubber tree "Hevea brasiliensis" that contains a rubber material cis-1, 4 polyisoprene. This material consists primarily of cis -1,4-polyisoprene, organic polymers which provide most of the strength and elasticity of latex. Also contains a variety of sugars, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins are highly allergic.
Rubber and products made of rubber containing a high amount of protein. People with latex allergies, allergy reactions are caused by proteins in rubber products. Latex allergy symptoms can be mild or severe and will cause a lot of problems for people with allergies, because now many products containing rubber.
Products made with soft elastic rubber as used in latex rubber gloves cause the most problems. Soft rubber cause allergic reactions over the hard rubber which is used for example in car tires. Soft rubber such as gloves and balloons were coated with a thin layer of cornmeal to make them easier to use. Rubber particles stick to the starch and fly through the air when a wrapper that contains rubber products opened. In places where the rubber gloves put on frequently such as hospitals, kadan air containing dust particles small rubber.
Latex is widely used in modern society and particularly in health care. William Halstead first used rubber surgical gloves in 1890. Latex has been used in various medical devices for decades. In the late 1980s, however, its use skyrocketed as latex gloves were widely recommended to prevent transmission of blood-borne pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
In the 1980s and 1990s, the high demand for latex to manufacture gloves and other objects resulted in hundreds of new, poorly regulated latex factories in tropical countries. Incident light and serious allergic reactions to latex began to rise rapidly among patients and health care workers (HCWs). Latex sensitization can occur after skin or mucosal contact, after peritoneal contact during surgery, and possibly after inhalation of aerosol particles with latex on their surfaces.
As latex products are widely used everywhere and one can develop an allergy to latex at any point in their life, anyone can suffer from this allergy. However, people in the medical profession are more likely allergic to latex gloves. Health workers who already suffer from fever are more likely to develop an allergy to latex, since they are more prone to allergies in general. People who have some surgery done on them to run a higher risk of developing allergies and people with spina bifida are more likely to end up needing treatment of latex allergies.
Allergy is a secondary immune response induced by the presence of certain substances (called allergens) that can cause damage to the tissues. Allergens are generally in the form of soluble protein or glycoprotein derived from several types of sources of allergens, such as: protein from pollen, insect venom, mold spores, worms, mites, vaccines and drugs as well as food (fish, shrimp, egg whites, milk, etc.). , Allergic reactions do not occur in all individuals but only occurs in certain individuals who are genetically allergic to an allergen. Allergic reactions to latex proteins can occur through contact with the skin or mucosa and rapid that within a few minutes to a few hours after the patient exposure to antigen which is characterized by symptoms of swelling or redness, nose and watery eyes, abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, decreased blood pressure and patients experiencing shock (anaphylaxis), which could potentially cause death.
Clinical Manifestations
Symptoms of delayed type hypersensitivity (type IV) usually develop within 1-2 days after exposure. Immediate hypersensitivity (type I) causes symptoms within minutes after exposure.
Symptoms:
- Pruritus or itching of the skin and mucous membranes are exposed.
- Edema or swelling occurs in the skin, mucous membranes, subcutaneous tissue.
- Hoarseness.
- Exit excessive tear.
- Rhinitis.
- Dispneau.
- Syncope.
- Stomach cramps.
- Nauseous vomit.
- Diarrhea Rash.
- Erythema, edema, papules, vesicles and in the area of direct contact (type IV).
- Erythema, thickening and pigment changes by chronic exposure (type IV).
- Urticaria, local or general (type I).
- Angioedema.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Rhinitis.
- Stridor.
- Hypotension, shock.
Source : http://allergycliniconline.com