Notice
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Latex comes from the sap of rubber trees. A latex allergy is an immune system response to certain proteins found in natural rubber (latex).
Sneezing
Runny nose
Itchy, watery eyes
Itchy throat
Wheezing
Hives
Rash
Swelling
Reactions occur when contact is made to the skin, mucous membranes (mouth, genitals, bladder, or rectum) or the bloodstream (during surgery). Breathing the powder inside latex gloves or balloons can also cause a reaction.
Signs often show up right away after contact. Reactions can range from mild to severe. Severe reactions occur within minutes and include many body systems and in some cases result in a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
Many products used in the hospital, community, and home contain latex.
IV tubing
Surgical and exam gloves
Catheters
Tourniquets
Adhesive tape
Elastic bandages
Baby bottle nipples
Elastic on diapers and clothes
Pacifiers
Balloons
Toys
Erasers
Art supplies
Dental dams
Condoms
There are non-latex products for these items. They are often made of plastic, vinyl, or silicone.
Anyone can get a latex allergy. It often occurs with frequent contact. Certain groups of people are at greater risk. They often have frequent contact.
Those at higher risk include:
Health care workers
Latex factory workers
People with spina bifida
People having multiple surgeries
History of reaction to multiple IV medicines
Certain food allergies (bananas, avocados, chestnuts, kiwi, and tomatoes) due to cross-reactivity with latex allergen
There are medicines to help treat the symptoms of latex allergy. The best treatment is to avoid contact with latex.
Alert your health care team if you have had a reaction to latex or unexplained allergic reaction during surgery.
Avoid all latex products. Use other kinds of gloves, tape, pacifiers, etc. Use nitrile or vinyl gloves instead of latex gloves.
Ask your doctors about medicine you can take before surgery.
For serious reactions, talk to your doctor about getting an epinephrine device. Wear a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace.
People with spina bifida or urologic defects should be on latex alert.
Communication is the key. You will need to alert anyone involved in your child’s care.
All health care providers
Schools
Day care workers
Babysitters
Teach your child to know and avoid latex products. Be sure that your child’s medical, dental, and school records have a latex allergy alert.
UWHC Pediatric Allergy Clinic
(608) 263-6180
UWHC Adult Allergy Clinic
(608) 263-6180
UWHC Spina Bifida Clinic
(608) 263-6420
Spina Bifida Association of America
4590 MacArthur Boulevard NW, Suite 250
Washington, DC 20007-4226
1-800-621-3141
This information was adapted with permission from the Spina Bifida Association of America.