BACKGROUND Composition of Latex Latex products are manufactured from a milky fluid derived from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. Several chemicals are added to this fluid during the processing and manufacture of commercial latex. Some proteins in latex can cause a range of mild to severe allergic reactions. Currently available methods of measurement do not provide easy or consistent identif...

The accurate diagnosis of hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex is the initial step in the effective management of individuals with latex allergy and in ensuring the quality of epidemiologic studies. The diagnostic algorithm used in the evaluation of an individual with suspected latex allergy begins with a comprehensive clinical history during which risk factors (atopy, food allergies, hand ...

For the child with persistent or worsening allergy symptoms of more than 2 months' duration, a screening radioallergosorbent test may be initiated after a careful history and physical examination. In the workup, be alert for allergic "shiners" and other signs of allergic disorders (eg, a bulging chest wall is suggestive of chronic asthma). Skin testing, performed on the skin of the back, is the...

PURPOSE To assess the validity of recommendations to avoid using cartridges for dental local anesthetic in patients with latex allergies. METHODS A MEDLINE search was conducted for the period 1966 to 2001, and relevant publications were reviewed for evidence of allergic reactions precipitated by latex in medication vials or cartridges for dental local anesthetic. RESULTS Twelve publications...

Natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy has attained world-wide importance with the diagnosis of glove hypersensitivity, contact urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma and anaphylaxis. In the present report, the latest literature of the epidemiology of NRL allergy is reviewed, an account on the incidence of NRL allergy (19 new cases of contact urticaria/100,000 workers per year) among health ca...

Background Serine protease inhibitors (SPI) comprising 60-90 amino acid residues, are frequent in plants, and belong to the protein family PR-6. It has recently been shown that a SPI-variant of wheat acts as an important allergen in baker’s asthma but not in persons suffering from wheatinduced food allergy. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of a recombinant SPI-variant of Hevea br...

Material and methods This is a retrospective study conducted with the information collected from 90 patients allergic to fruit or nut for a period of ten months. The following data were collected: sex, age, pollen allergy type and clinical form, type of allergy to fruit and nut and its clinical manifestation and whether latex sensitization was present or not. The analysis was performed using th...

It has been known for some time that the latex contained in some medical equipment, such as gloves, can result in an allergic reaction. A new report from the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) looks into the response from NHS organisations to the threat from latex allergies and whether adequate measures have been taken to protect health care staff and patients.