Developing Symptoms
If you develop symptoms of a latex allergy, avoid direct contact with latex gloves and other latex-containing products until you can see a physician experienced in treating latex allergies.
If you have a latex allergy, your health care professional or physician may discuss the following precautions:
- Avoiding contact with latex gloves and products.
- Avoiding areas where you might inhale the powder from latex gloves worn by other workers.
- Telling your employer and health care providers (physicians, nurses, dentists, etc.) that you have a latex allergy.
- Wearing a medical alert bracelet.
Case Reports
The following case reports briefly describe the experiences of three workers who developed a latex allergy after occupational exposures. These cases are not representative of all reactions to latex but are examples of the most serious types of reactions. They illustrate the experience in some individuals.
- A 33-year-old woman sought medical treatment for occupational asthma after 6 months of periodic cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and occasional wheezing. She had worked for 7 years as an inspector at a medical supply company, where her job included inflating latex gloves coated with cornstarch. Her symptoms began within 10 minutes of starting work and worsened later in the day continuing 90 minutes after leaving work. Symptoms disappeared completely while she was on a 12-day vacation, but they returned on her first day back at work.
- A midwife initially suffered hives, nasal congestion, and conjunctivitis. Within a year, she developed asthma, and 2 years later she went into shock after a routine gynecological examination during which latex gloves were used. The midwife also suffered respiratory distress in latex-containing environments when she had no direct contact with latex products. She was unable to continue working.
- An intensive care nurse with a history of runny nose, itchy eyes, asthma, eczema, and contact dermatitis experienced four severe allergic reactions to latex. The first reaction began with asthma severe enough to require treatment in an emergency room. The second and third reactions were similar to the first. The fourth and most severe reaction occurred when she put on latex gloves at work. She went into severe shock and was successfully treated in an emergency room.
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Latex allergy in the workplace can result in potentially serious health problems for workers, who are often unaware of the risk of latex exposure.
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1-7. Which precaution may be recommended by your health care professional for a latex allergy?
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