How to Prevent Latex Allergy
By: BonebrakeTotal Views: 185, Word Count: 747,
Allergy from latex or natural rubber is a very common type of allergy among people all over the world. This allergy was first detected in US in the year 1987 and became a major concern for healthcare industry in USA. However latex allergy is not anymore restricted to healthcare as anyone using latex product can become a victim. The question is how to prevent latex allergy?
Latex is milk like fluid or the protein present in the natural rubber that causes allergy in many people. How to prevent latex allergy is a challenging task. Latex is present in lesser or greater degree in many household and industrial products. Some of the common products with latex are – shoes, diapers, sanitary pads, waist belts, surgical gloves, rubber bands, paints, kitchen containers, balloons, and so on. The symptoms of latex allergy are skin rash, itchiness, asthma, tightness of the throat, wheezing, etc.
Who is more prone to Latex Allergy?
- Research shows that healthcare professionals are very much prone to latex allergy as they frequently use surgical products like gloves. According to research almost 5 – 10 % pf healthcare professionals in US are affected by latex allergy.
- According to study people who are in beauty care business like hair dressing, or other cosmetic treatments are also prone to latex allergy as they use gloves frequently.
- Other industries where latex gloves are used by workers, for example – chefs, police officers, lab workers, military personnel, fire fighters, are quite prone to the latex allergy.
- People, especially children, who have gone surgeries for a number of times, are also prone to latex allergy. According to research 68% of children with spina bifida react to latex.
- Another set of people who are very likely to get affected by latex allergy are those who work in factories manufacturing rubber products.
If you have any symptoms of latex allergy then here are a few tips on how to prevent latex allergy:
- If you are a health care professional then look for non latex gloves. You can look for products with reduced protein or powder gloves.
- Keep your hands clean and properly dry them before using gloves. After taking out the gloves or using any latex product wash and dry your hands immediately.
- The healthcare or any such industry that involves usage of latex products should create proper awareness for latex allergy among its workers.
- Housekeeping workers should use good practices of cleaning latex containing dust frequently from areas like ventilation ducts, upholstery, carpet, and so on.
- Medical science has discovered allergy shots or immunotherapy to latex but this is not hundred percent protections from the allergy and has shown mixed results.
- If you get severely affected then check with the restaurants, medical and dental facilities, to make sure all food and treatments are prepared without latex utensils or equipments.
Anybody suffering from latex allergy should have proper awareness of the symptoms and prevention of the problem. You can contact a medical practitioner for valuable suggestion on how to prevent latex allergy. The key is to avoid latex products as far as possible.
About the Author
Allergist Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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