How is latex allergy diagnosed?
Latex allergy is diagnosed by an allergy blood test.
How is latex allergy treated?
The best treatment for latex allergy is avoidance. If you have severe latex allergy reaction you should:
Health care workers with a history of latex sensitivity who must wear gloves should stop wearing latex gloves. Their co-workers should also not use latex gloves, but rather switch to synthetic gloves.
Patients with latex allergy are at risk of asthma on exposure to latex-containing aerosols. They should try to avoid areas where powdered latex gloves or other latex products are used.
How can latex allergy be prevented?
If you have latex allergy you should avoid direct contact with all products and devices that contain latex. Also avoid food that causes an allergic reaction. Latex allergy problems during dental, medical or surgical procedures can be prevented by warning health care providers about latex allergy before any test or treatment. Latex allergic people can receive medical or dental care in a latex-safe area. Hospitals and clinics that use only low protein latex gloves and non-latex gloves have experienced dramatic declines in new cases of latex allergy.
Allergists can provide latex-allergic people with information and assistance to help them avoid products which may contain latex. The American Latex Allergy Association also has additional information.
Content was based on American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
