Latex Allergy

Yes, apparently some people are allergic to latex. I wasn't really aware of latex allergies until I started looking around at allied heatlh programs. I even saw warnings about latex posted on lab doors at Conestoga, when I was there last Wednesday. I think that most people with a latex allergies get a horrible rash when their skin comes in contact with it. Some medical professionals have developed a life threatening allergy to it. Being a health care worker is considered a risk factor for developing a latex allergy! The amount of exposure to latex seems to be related to the developement of the allergy. What can make the situation worse is the use of powdered latex gloves.

Powder is added to latex gloves so that they are easier to put on and take off. The allergic response is actually caused by latex proteins. Latex proteins can become attached to the aforementioned powder and become airborne, which means that in certain environments people are actually breathing in the allergin. There is now a move towards using non powdered low protein gloves, in the medical field.