Latex Allergy
What is a latex allergy?
Some children have an allergy or sensitivity to latex (rubber). Reactions can be seen when products made from latex come in contact with the child's skin, mucous membranes in the mouth, genitals, bladder, or rectum, or the bloodstream (during surgery). Some children may also react when blowing up a rubber balloon or breathing in powder from the inside of latex gloves.
Symptoms
When a child with a latex allergy comes in contact with products that contain latex, they may experience the following symptoms:
- Watery or itchy eyes
- Wheezing
- Hives
- Flushing of the skin or a skin rash
- Itching of the skin
- Swelling of the skin
In some cases, severe reactions ("anaphylactic shock") can occur in which the child may have problems breathing, experience chest tightness, or have swelling of his/her throat or tongue. Severe reactions require emergency treatment.
The symptoms of a latex allergy may resemble other medical conditions. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
Who is at risk?
Some children are more likely to become latex sensitive. These are children who have frequent exposure to latex from medical procedures, including:
- Children with spina bifida
- Children with complex genitourinary disease
- Children with chronic indwelling medical devices made of latex such as nasogastric tubes, G-tubes, or suprapubic catheters
- Children who have had many surgeries
Children who have allergies to certain foods may also have a latex allergy. Both the foods and the latex may have some of the same proteins.
Commonly eaten foods which contain some of the same proteins as latex include the following:
- Bananas
- Avocados
- Chestnuts
- Kiwi
- Passion fruit
- Papaya
- Figs
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Plums
- Tomatoes
- Celery
What to Avoid
Many items at home, in the community and in a hospital may contain latex. These include, but are not limited to the following:
(All of the items used at Cincinnati Children's are latex safe)
- Balloons
- Surgical and exam gloves
- Koosh", rubber and tennis balls
- IV tubing injection sites
- Pacifiers and bottle nipples
- Catheters
- Zippered plastic storage bags
- Adhesive tape
- Infant toothbrush massager
- Electrode pads
- Condoms, diaphragms
- Blood pressure cuffs
- Dental products (mouth guards)
- Tourniquets
- Beach and water toys
- Stethoscopes
- Rubber bands, Band-Aids"
- Crutch tips, axillary pads
- Hand grips on racquets, bicycles and tools
- Chux!
- Kitchen cleaning gloves
- Elastic bandages
- Wheelchair tires and cushions
- ACE" Wraps
- Art supplies (paint, glue, erasers)
- Medication vials
- Toys (Stretch Armstrong, old Barbies")
- Dental dams
- Sport shoes and rubber clothing (raincoats, elastic on underwear and socks)
- Disposable diapers
Any item that is light brown and can be stretched may contain latex. There are items that can be used in place of the items that contain latex. They are made from vinyl, plastic, or silicone.
Latex-Free Alternatives / Barriers
- Elmers" (school glue, Glue-All, Glue Colors, Carpenters Wood Glue, Sno-Drift Paste), FaberCastel" art erasers, Crayola" products (except for rubber stamps, erasers)
- Liquitex" paints
- Mylar balloons
- PVC (Hedstrom Sports Ball")
- Provide a barrier: cloth or mat; wooden floors
- Polyurethane female condom (Reality"), Polymer", polyurethane male condoms soon on market
- Cover with cloth or tape
- Wire springs
- Tranquility", First Quality", Huggies" and Gold Seal" (use Velcro" closures)
- Cover elastic with cloth (Decent Exposures")
- Synthetic non-latex gloves for food handling
- Silicone nipples (Gerber", Evenflo", MAM")
- Vinyl or leather handles
- Vinyl, cotton liners (Allerderm") under kitchen gloves
- Jurassic Park figures (Kenner"), 1993 Barbie", Disney dolls (Mattel"), many toys by Fisher Price", Little Tikes", Playschool Discovery"
- String instead of rubber bands
- Waxed paper, plain plastic bags
Tell your child's caregivers if:
- Your child has ever had any type of reaction to a latex product
- You think your child has had a reaction to latex
- Your child has an unexplained allergic reaction during an operation
Your child's caregivers include dentists, physical/occupational therapists, physicians and nurses, teachers, daycare providers and babysitters, and friends and family members.
What to do if your child is allergic to latex:
- Avoid all latex products at home and in the hospital (Use items that do not have latex in them)
- Ask your child's physician to evaluate him/her for pre-medication before surgery to help prevent a reaction
- Use a MedicAlert" bracelet or necklace
- Carry a pair of non-latex gloves, information about latex allergies, and/or a note from your child's physician
- Be sure hospital and school records have a latex allergy alert
- Teach your child to know and avoid latex products
- Ask your child's physician about the use of injectable epinephrine for your child in the event of an emergency
- Have it available for your child in all of his/her surroundings (at home, in the car, at daycare, etc.)
- Know what to do in case of an emergency (discuss this with your child's physician and school nurse)
- Avoid areas where your child may inhale latex molecules
Call your doctor or the Allergy Division at Cincinnati Children's if you have other questions.
This information is based upon the following resources:
Rev. 1/07
