If you start having trouble breathing any time you're examined by a doctor using rubber gloves, you have a Latex Allergy. The occurrence of latex allergies have risen dramatically recently, due to the increased usage of latex in products.

Natural rubber latex is made from a processed plant and is used in a wide range of commercial products, such as medical supplies like gloves for surgery, catheters, stethoscopes, and syringes, and common consumer items like balloons, gardening gloves, tires, condoms, elastic waistbands in clothing, soles for athletic shoes, children's toys and pacifiers. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) reports that almost 6% of the people in the U.S. have latex allergies, including 15% of those employed in the health care field.

Symptoms of Latex Allergy

People who are exposed to latex on a regular basis are usually the same people who suffer from latex allergies. These people either contact latex directly, or breathe in the powder that occasionally coats latex gloves. It's this powder that causes some people to react to latex without direct contact. The individuals with latex allergies can experience contact dermatitis, an itchy, red rash on the skin caused by direct skin contact. Workers in the medical field are particularly susceptible to the allergy since their lines of work involve the daily use of latex products.

Symptoms caused by the inhalation of latex allergens resemble the symptoms of hay fever: coughing, breathing difficulty, sinus congestion, and watery eyes. However, the respiratory symptoms can sometimes be more severe when latex is involved. Reaction to the allergen could result in anaphylaxis, a very serious and potentially fatal response that afflicts the entire body at the same time. This type of reaction is possible even if past exposure to latex brought about no symptoms.

Latex Allergy Diagnosis

Your doctor might use a blood (RAST) test to check for the occurrence of latex antibodies in your blood stream. Although it is not often employed, a skin prick test may also be used to test for latex allergies.

Trigger Avoidance

Just like any other allergy, steering clear of the triggers to your symptoms is the best method of dealing with the disease. Because of the dominance of the use of latex gloves for surgery in most hospitals and clinics across the country, the American Academy of Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) has suggested that all medical facilities switch to using only non-powdered gloves. Since this hasn't yet taken effect nationally, be sure to let your health care providers know about your latex allergy. It's not a bad idea to wear a medical alert bracelet that shows that you're allergic to latex in the event of an emergency.

While you will find latex in countless products for consumers, there are alternatives. Butyl- or petroleum-based synthetic rubber items have so far been proven safe from triggering allergies. Vinyl, as well, has proven a good alternate substance. By avoiding products containing latex, you should be able to limit your contact with this escalating allergen.