Causes And Symptoms of Latex Allergy

If you're allergic to latex, you're likely to have symptoms after touching latex rubber products, such as gloves or balloons. You also can have symptoms if you breathe in latex particles that are released into the air when someone removes latex gloves.

Causes of Latex Allergy :
In a latex allergy, your immune system identifies latex as a harmful substance and triggers certain antibodies to fight it off. The next time you're exposed to latex, these antibodies tell your immune system to release histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream. This process produces a range of allergy symptoms. The more times you are exposed to latex, the more strongly your immune system is likely to respond. This is called sensitization.

Latex allergy can occur in these ways :
Direct contact : The most common cause of latex allergy involves touching latex-containing products, including latex gloves, condoms and balloons.
Inhalation : Latex products, especially gloves, release latex particles. You can breathe in these particles when they become airborne. The amount of airborne latex from gloves differs greatly depending on the brand of glove used.

Symptoms of Latex Allergy :
If you're allergic to latex, you're likely to have symptoms after touching latex rubber products, such as gloves or balloons. You also can have symptoms if you breathe in latex particles that are released into the air when someone removes latex gloves.
Latex allergy symptoms range from mild to severe. A reaction depends on how sensitive you are to latex and the amount of latex you touch or inhale. Your reaction can become worse with each additional latex exposure.

Mild symptoms :
✓ Itching
✓ Skin redness
✓ Hives or rash

More-severe symptoms :
✓ Sneezing
✓ Runny nose
✓ Itchy, watery eyes
✓ Scratchy throat
✓ Difficulty breathing
✓ Wheezing
✓ Cough