Latex Allergies in the Childcare Setting

What is latex? Latex is the milky sap from the commercial rubber tree. Many items in a childcare setting are made with latex: baby bottle nipples, pacifiers, balls, other toys such as dolls, paints, glue, erasers, adhesive bandages, and latex gloves. Latex also can be found in dental supplies, syringes, catheters, stethoscopes, balloons, television remote controls, automobile tires, and carpeting.

Latex Allergies

A latex allergy is an allergic response to proteins from natural rubber latex. Exposure to latex can cause a mild rash, a more severe rash with tissue swelling, asthma, or anaphylaxis--a severe life threatening emergency. Someone who previously has only a mild rash could have anaphylaxis after the next exposure.

An allergy to latex is not common in the general population (only about 1 percent) but it is very common in some populations. People with a history of atopy/allergies and occupational exposure to powdered latex are at higher risk. Approximately 10 percent of health care workers have latex allergies. People with specific health problems (spina bifida, urogenital anomalies) or who have undergone multiple surgical procedures are at very high risk, as high as 67 percent.

In the last few decades, an increasing number of workers have added the use of latex gloves to their daily tasks. Powdered latex gloves became popular. Unfortunately, latex proteins are in the powder which not only gets on the skin but in the air as well. Breathing the proteins can result in the development of a latex allergy. Non-powdered gloves now are available but non-latex gloves are better for most situations.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of latex allergies can range from mild to severe and sometimes may even be life-threatening. Mild symptoms include reactions similar to those of poison ivy with scratching of the hands and arms or areas that have had direct contact with the latex product. These symptoms may progress to skin blisters and spread to other areas of the body. More severe reactions include itchy, watery eyes; swelling of lips, tongue, or face; breathlessness; dizziness and nausea. In rare cases, anaphylactic shock can occur but usually other symptoms have appeared with previous exposures to alert the person to potential problems.

If you suffer irritant contact dermatitis, you may be tempted to use hand lotion under your gloves. But this can actually make the situation worse as petroleum-based lotions leach latex proteins out of the glove, increasing exposure to the skin exposure.

Latex allergies can be diagnosed through blood or skin tests given by a physician.

Latex Allergy Prevention

Make sure that you know if any child or staff person has latex allergy or spina bifida. Extra precautions and emergency care (auto-injectable epinephrine, Epi-Pen) must be available. Consult with the person's physician regarding how to prepare for and respond to an emergency.

Help to prevent latex allergies by using only non-latex gloves in your childcare program. If you have children or adults with latex allergies, remove latex products such as latex-based toys from use in your program. Latex gloves should not be used for food handling.Vinyl gloves are appropriate for food preparation, diaper changes and general cleaning. Medical grade vinyl gloves are appropriate for first aid involving blood or other body fluids.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, 611 East Wells St.; Milwaukee, WI; 53202; 800-222-2762; www.aaaai.org.

American Latex Allergy Association, PO Box 13930; Milwaukee, WI 53213-0930; 888-97-ALERT; www.latexallergyresources.org

Spina Bifida Association of America, 4590 MacArthur Blvd., NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20007-4226; 800-621-3141; www.sbaa.org.

Intnernet Resources

Latex Allergy Help; www.latexallergyhelp.com

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