Brief overview
- Symptoms: Itching, redness, wheals, swelling of the skin, possible all over the body, symptoms occur immediately or with a time delay; rare: life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock)
- Treatment: avoid contact with latex, medication
- Course of the disease and prognosis: Allergy cannot be cured, symptoms can be relieved by avoiding materials containing latex
- Causes and risk factors: Exact cause not known, overreaction of the immune system, increased risk in certain professions, early contact with latex such as repeated operations, cross-allergies
- Diagnosis: medical consultation, skin test (prick test), blood test, possibly provocation test
- Prevention: Avoid early contact with latex, inform your doctor if you know you are allergic to latex, always carry your allergy passport and emergency medication with you
What is a latex allergy?
A latex allergy is an allergic reaction to natural latex or synthetic latex products. Around one to two percent of the global population are affected by this type of allergy. It is one of the most common occupational allergies and is the second most common cause of a severe allergic reaction during surgery.
Natural latex is obtained from the rubber tree. It is used in the manufacture of plasters, disposable gloves, catheters, cannulas and other medical products. However, latex can also be found in everyday objects, such as pacifiers, rubber clothing cuffs, balloons, condoms and hot water bottles.
Latex allergy can be divided into two different allergy types: The rapid “immediate type” (type 1) and the slower “delayed type” (type 4).
- In the case of type 1 latex allergy, the body usually reacts within minutes with allergic signs and produces so-called IgE antibodies against certain proteins in natural latex.
- Type 4 latex allergies are triggered by additives (colorants, antioxidants, etc.) in the latex. Type 4 allergy usually only occurs a few hours after contact with the latex. So-called T lymphocytes of the immune system falsely recognize the additives as dangerous and try to fight them off.
Latex allergy: Condoms
What are the symptoms of a latex allergy?
The symptoms of a latex allergy vary greatly and depend, among other things, on how the allergens reach the person:
Type 1 latex allergy
With this allergic reaction, very itchy wheals usually appear immediately at the site where the skin came into contact with latex. The skin is very red. The changes sometimes spread to the whole body.
This applies in particular to the powdered latex gloves frequently used in medicine. Putting on the gloves stirs up the allergens, which means that those affected occasionally inhale them. They then suffer from an irritating cough and even shortness of breath. The eyes water and the nose runs. Sometimes the latex allergy triggers an asthma attack.
When using condoms containing latex, women in particular may experience the following symptoms due to the sensitive mucous membrane in the genital area:
- itching
- burning
- redness
- swelling
This is also possible in men. However, due to the somewhat less sensitive skin of the penis, this is less common.
Anaphylactic or allergic shock is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
Type 4 latex allergy
During latex production, additives are often added that have an allergenic effect. In the case of type 4 latex allergy, symptoms usually only occur after more than twelve hours. The affected skin area reacts with redness, papules or blisters, in some cases with additional itching. This is also known as contact dermatitis.
If contact with the additives continues, the eczema may become chronic. The skin area becomes thicker, scaly and cracked and is more susceptible to infection.
With this type of allergy, the skin changes also spread to the whole body in some cases, and in rare cases anaphylactic shock occurs.
How is a latex allergy treated?
For people who suffer from a latex allergy, it is important to avoid contact with latex. Latex-free gloves or latex-free condoms are now available everywhere.
If you are affected and frequently come into contact with latex products at work, ask your company doctor or the employers’ liability insurance association about protective measures in the workplace. Sometimes a change of job is unavoidable in order to avoid latex.
Medication for latex allergy
Sometimes the use of cortisone in ointment or tablet form is necessary to suppress the immune system. In the event of a severe allergic reaction in which the whole body is affected, cortisone and antihistamines are emergency medications. The doctor injects these directly into the bloodstream via the vein.
Allergy passport and emergency kit
It is important that every allergy sufferer carries an allergy passport with them. This passport lists the substances to which the person concerned is allergic. It is advisable to show the allergy passport at every doctor’s appointment so that the medical staff can use appropriate latex-free products.
Depending on the severity of the allergy, it is also necessary for people with allergies to have an emergency kit with them. This contains medication that reduces the immune system and stabilizes the circulation in the event of a severe allergic reaction.
How does a latex allergy develop?
Natural latex itself is an allergenic substance. Industrially produced latex also contains many additives such as antioxidants or dyes, which sometimes trigger allergies.
It is not yet clear exactly why allergies develop. Researchers assume that allergies are caused by a combination of many factors.
Researchers have discovered that particularly early skin contact with latex is a risk factor for the development of a latex allergy. For example, babies with an “open back” (spina bifida) used to be operated on with gloves containing latex. These children were much more likely to develop a latex allergy later in life than children without spina bifida.
Doctors suspect that early contact with latex during surgery is the cause of the allergy development.
Risk factors
Certain groups of people have an increased risk of latex allergy:
- Medical personnel are very frequently exposed to latex. Latex allergy is therefore widespread in this occupational group. They also include room care staff, gardeners and personnel from the rubber industry or the hairdressing trade.
- If people have come into frequent contact with latex during medical procedures, they also have an increased risk of developing a latex allergy. For example, children with spina bifida, whose treatment usually involves many operations.
- People who frequently receive a bladder catheter and those in need of care.
Avoid latex in everyday life
As the latex content in many consumer goods is not sufficiently labeled, it is not easy to avoid latex completely in everyday life. The following products contain latex particularly frequently:
- Condoms and diaphragms
- mattresses
- adhesives
- Balloons
- Pacifiers and teat bottle attachments
- Erasers and chewing gum
- Rubber bands (sewn into clothing)
- shoes
- Household gloves
- Car tires
Cross allergies with latex allergy
Patients who suffer from a latex allergy sometimes also have an allergic reaction to certain foods. This is referred to as a cross-allergy. Banana, kiwi, fig or avocado are common triggers. Certain plants also have an allergenic effect in many cases. These include the mulberry tree, rubber trees, poinsettias, hemp and oleander.
How is a latex allergy diagnosed?
If a latex allergy is suspected, it is advisable to consult a doctor. The doctor will first ask a few questions to assess the risk of an allergy:
- What are your symptoms?
- Do you suffer from other allergies?
- What is your occupation?
This is followed by a detailed examination of the affected skin area. Finally, the doctor has a number of allergy tests available to help diagnose the latex allergy.
Prick test
RAST test
In the RAST test, blood is taken from the patient to see if antibodies against natural latex are present. However, as the antibodies cannot always be detected, this test is less conclusive than the prick test.
Provocation test
This test is carried out to clearly diagnose a latex allergy. The patient wears a latex glove for 20 minutes. If symptoms occur, such as skin changes or circulatory problems, the glove is removed immediately. The diagnosis is confirmed.
As dangerous allergy symptoms sometimes occur, the patient must be closely monitored during the test.
How does a latex allergy progress?
A latex allergy cannot be cured, but it can be controlled with appropriate medication and above all by avoiding contact with latex.
Latex allergy usually only develops at an older age and then usually lasts a lifetime. It is advisable for those affected to avoid contact with latex in order to remain symptom-free. Sometimes this means changing jobs to avoid further contact with latex. The employers’ liability insurance association or the company doctor can provide support here.
Can a latex allergy be prevented?
As the exact reasons for the development of allergies are not precisely known, it is difficult to prevent them.
It is necessary for those affected by a known latex allergy to inform the doctors and dentists treating them about the allergy. If the allergy is severe, it is advisable to always carry the emergency kit prescribed by the doctor with appropriate medication as a prophylactic measure.
In hospitals, there are recommendations and procedures for staff and patients to reduce the risk of developing a latex allergy. For example, it is generally recommended to use surgical gloves that are low in latex allergens in operating theaters; powdered gloves are also prohibited.
For people with an increased risk of developing a latex allergy, such as people with spina bifida, it is recommended that hospitals use natural latex-free gloves and materials, especially in operating theaters and anaesthetic areas. Studies have shown that latex allergies occur significantly less frequently when appropriate precautions are taken.
