Facts About Hazardous Latex Allergies

Repeated Exposure Can Trigger Allergies

Healthcare workers are at the highest risk of experiencing latex allergies due to the fact latex gloves and other latex products are so prevalent in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In fact, reports indicate up to fifteen percent of healthcare professionals experience latex allergies at some point in their careers. Individuals who are not in the healthcare industry but undergo frequent medical procedures are at risk due to repeated contact with latex used in medical facilities. Heavy industry professionals are also at risk due to the presence of latex in safety equipment. So while latex gloves and other products made of this material are meant to help keep patients and the healthcare workers treating them safe, allergies to latex are still a major concern.

Latex Allergies Share A Connection With Some Food Allergies

As mentioned earlier, individuals with other allergies and similar medical conditions, such as asthma, are more prone to experiencing an allergy to latex. This is particularly the case when it comes to food allergies. For an unknown reason, latex allergies have been found to be quite prominent in individuals who experience a wide variety of food allergies. Latex allergy is commonly diagnosed alongside allergies to certain foods such as avocados, bananas, chestnuts, kiwis, and passion fruit. These foods are found to have some of the same allergens found in latex. Avoiding these foods can help individuals avoid triggering allergic responses to latex.