Latex Allergy

Summary

Latex is a milky fluid that comes from the tropical rubber tree. Hundreds of everyday products contain latex. Repeated exposure to a protein in natural latex can make you more likely to develop a latex allergy. If your immune system detects the protein, a reaction can start in minutes. You could get a rash or asthma. In rare cases you could have a severe reaction called anaphylaxis.

Your doctor may use a physical exam and skin and blood tests to diagnose it. There are medicines to treat a reaction, but it is best to try to avoid latex. Common latex products include:

Gloves
Condoms
Balloons
Rubber bands
Shoe soles
Pacifiers

You can find latex-free versions of these products.

Learn More

Allergy Blood Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Home Healthcare Workers: How to Prevent Latex Allergies (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) - PDF Also in Spanish
Latex allergies - for hospital patients (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Latex Allergy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Latex in Cosmetics (Food and Drug Administration)
Managing latex allergies at home (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

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National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Latex Allergy is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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