Latex Allergy

Jon S Parham, DO, MPH, FAAFP and Sandra N New, DNP Reviewed 06/2022

BASICS

Latex allergy is a hypersensitive immune response to natural rubber latex (NRL). Latex allergy affects healthcare personnel, patients (most commonly), latex workers, and other latex-exposed per...

Exposure history and immuno-testing are the cornerstones of diagnosis.

Clinical history (87% sensitivity, 14% specificity) compared relatively well in sensitivity vs skin prick testin...

Removal and further avoidance of any latex products

Irritant contact dermatitis: use anti-pruritics, emollients; topical steroids if severe inflammation
Allergic contact dermatitis: topical s...

Exposure avoidance as possible, two preloaded epinephrine syringes (with usage training) at hand at all times

Yearly re-evaluation of latex exposures and risk lev...

Nucera E, Aruanno A, Rizzi A, et al. Latex allergy: current status and future perspectives. JAsthma Allergy. 2020;13:385–398.

Raulf M. Current state of occupational latex allergy. Curr Opi...

Davenport J, Gomez R, Smith D. Latex content in adult vaccines. Mil Med. 2020;185:354–355.
Larenas-Linnemann D, Luna-Pech JA. What you shoul...

History, examination, and latex-related IgE testing are keys to diagnose and confirm latex allergy overall.
Urticaria is the most common early finding of latex allergy reaction.
Latex re...

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