YOU ARE NOW CONNECTED TO THE TOXLINE (1981 FORWARD, NON-ROYALTY) FILE.
 
                        ==LATEX HYPERSENSITIVITY==
 
6
AUTHOR                    Helbling A
TITLE                     [Latex allergy: from contact urticaria to
                          asthma]
SOURCE                    Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax; VOL 85, ISS 33,
                          1996, P978-82 (REF: 22)
ABSTRACT                  Latex, a natural plant material, has gained
                          increasing interest over the last years
                          because of its allergenic potency inducing
                          problems in medical professions as well as in
                          daily life. Since 1979 reports on allergic
                          spontaneous reactions induced by latex
                          products (such as gloves, condoms, balloons,
                          cofferdam) have increased steadily. Symptoms
                          manifest clinically as contact urticaria,
                          rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma or anaphylactic
                          shock. Some of these patients may
                          additionally have an alimentary allergy
                          (avocado, banana, maron i.e.), possibly
                          containing agents cross-reacting with latex.
                          Pathophysiologically the allergy is
                          IgE-mediated, because antigen-specific IgE
                          antibodies have been found in vitro as well
                          as in vivo. Health professionals, workers in
                          gum manufacturing and individuals with spina
                          bifida have been found to be at special risk
                          for a latex allergy therefore, it is
                          important that these persons at risk are
                          recognized and occasionally tested prior to
                          interventions or operations. Strict avoidance
                          of the use of latex products is the primary
                          preventive measure, which may occasionally be
                          difficult, particularly in patients with
                          respiratory diseases.
 
7
AUTHOR                    Strzyzewski NM
TITLE                     Latex allergy: everyone is at risk.
SOURCE                    Plast Surg Nurs; VOL 15, ISS 4, 1995, P204-6
                          (REF: 6)
ABSTRACT                  Latex allergy often begins innocently with no
                          symptoms or a slight case of contact
                          dermatitis. As the allergy progresses, it
                          becomes life-threatening. While this process
                          puts our patients at great risk, we as health
                          care workers fail to realize the risk we
                          place our health and careers in, as we allow
                          ourselves to become further exposed to the
                          latex allergen at work and at home.
 
12
AUTHOR                    Bensky KP
TITLE                     Latex allergy: who, what, when, where, why,
                          and how.
SOURCE                    CRNA; VOL 6, ISS 4, 1995, P177-82 (REF: 12)
ABSTRACT                  Patients with an allergy to latex are being
                          encountered more often by healthcare
                          providers than ever before in the past. Latex
                          allergy is also common among healthcare
                          providers. This article will describe who,
                          what, when, where, why and how to deal with
                          these patients and colleagues. Latex allergy
                          can be as minor as a rash on the hands or as
                          life threatening as an anaphylactoid
                          reaction. Healthcare in a latex-free
                          environment is necessary when providing care
                          for these patients. Therefore, it is
                          necessary to remove all latex products from
                          the area where care will be provided. It may
                          also be beneficial to pretreat the patient
                          with steroids and other medications. The best
                          prevention for an allergic reaction to latex
                          is to take a thorough history for every
                          patient before providing care.