Latex allergy recommendations
Make a correct diagnosis. To confirm latex allergy the allergy specialist need to perform skin tests.
Warn of your latex allergy through documented reports, medical alert bracelets, etc.
HOSPITAL RULES
- You should avoid entering rooms where there are latex products, especially gloves.
- Surgical procedures should be scheduled carefully, carried out in latex free operating rooms or operating rooms adapted to early morning when the latex in the environment has been deposited. Also an area free of latex should be provided for the postoperative hospitalization. Review the materials, mattress, and appropriate staff training.
- In case of surgery or dental and gynecological examinations:
- Alert medical staff that you are allergic to latex to take precautions in the use of tools.
- You should use non-latex gloves, for example neoprene, nitrile or vinyl.
- Systems using simple venous infusion with latex connections (brown) should not be used. Use double venous infusion systems with Y shape, without latex.
- Do not use latex nasogastric tubes (red) or latex Foley catheters (Standard). Use LEVIN nasogastric tubes (transparent).
- Do not use latex Guedel tubes (black). Use disposable Guedel tubes (transparent). Do not used normal ambu masks (black). Use silicone ambu masks (Rüschss).
- Do not use latex gloves for household cleaning and scrubbing.
SOCIAL RULES
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Avoid contact with latex products, especially gloves, balloons, dummies (pacifiers), teats and condoms. Furthermore, inhalation of powder latex from other people should be prevented.
- Distrust all elastic products, mainly thin-walled.
- Look at the labeling where natural rubber may appear as the chemical name of cis-1,4 polyisoprene.
- A neckless or bracelet stating clearly your latex allergy should be worn.
- Given the large number of objects made with latex in healthcare, it is necessary to inform the staff that you will meet in any consultation, vaccination, testing, examination, medical or dental procedures, etc. of your latex allergy so that the preparation of facilities, materials used and coordinating staff can be carefully prepared.
- Consider wearing synthetic gloves when you go to medical appointments, and encourage the use of latex-free products for all patients.
- For people at risk, the allergist will test latex allergy prior to any surgery or gynecological examination.
- All suspicious objects containing latex should be removed from your room.
- Ficus, poinsettias and other plants that give off “milk” when squeezed or leaves torn off the stem should be avoided in the house. The similarity of this latex with natural rubber can cause reactions.
- Antihistamines and an epinephrine auto-injector should be permanently available, which should be brought along to compromising situations, new locations, excursions or trips …
- When going to restaurants, make sure food has not been prepared using latex gloves.
- Warn the school canteen of the problem of using gloves.
- The frequent use of latex gloves in hamburger restaurants, food shops and supermarkets – to serve it is also necessary to remove gloves and wash hands thoroughly.
- When a drug by injection, contained in a vial with a rubber stopper is administered, it is advisable that the rubber plug is not pierced but instead, you should remove the cap and load the drug directly. A preparation that does not contain latex is always preferred.
- After touching an object with latex, care must be taken not to touch the eyes afterwards. Such contact can trigger a major reaction.
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Certain patients allergic to latex may cross-react with proteins from other foods like nuts, bananas, kiwi and other tropical fruits. In the case of having a reaction to these foods, they should be avoided.
Allergy recommendations index.
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