Hi, all--
I just finished reading my Sunday newspaper and came across a column that
has given me many reasons to pause. The topic? Latex allergies. The
author: Dr. Gott, who is usually pretty conservative. I am going to quote
portions of this column, and welcome discussion on the concerns that are
raised.
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"Americans may be on the brink of a new epidemic: life-threatening
reactions to latex rubber.
Such an allergy was, until 1980's, a medical curiosity. Now, according to
Dr. Timothy Sullivan III (Prof of Med, Emory U School of Med) latex
allergy may affect up to 10% of the nation's 6 million health care
workers, not to mention the millions of patients who may be susceptible.
The problem was first reported in the 1980s among people who, in the
course of their duties, developed dermatitis on their hands from latex
gloves. The dermatitis often progressed to more serious allergic
reactions, such as asthma, cough, itchy eyes, and anaphylactic shock.
Following this, studies showed that about 50% of children who required
extensive surgery developed antibodies to the latex gloves used by their
surgeons. This "mini-epidemic" prompted some hospitals to stop using
latex gloves, substitituing instead hypo-allergenic vinyl gloves.
Today, there is an astronomical increase in the use of latex gloves to
protect health care workers........
[snip]
Dr. Sullivan believes that there is an enormous potential for serious
reactions among millions of otherwise health persons.
The problem appears to be escalating because of the methods used to
manufacture latex products, many of which are made in Asian countries.
Due to the geometric increase in demand for such products, manufacturers
shortened the process of making latex; there is less washing of the
product during the manufacture and some purification steps have been
eliminated. Consequently, current products contain more protein antigen,
which can enter the dkin of susceptible individuals, or be absorbed by
the protective powder and inhaled. In either case, the antigen causes an
increase in the body's antibodies, with resulting severe reactions.
Of those people with latex sensitivity, about 1/3 display a heat rash.....;
another 1/3 experience true allergic dermatitis.....; 1/3 suffer rapid
and sometimes *fatal* asthma or shock. In many instances, those persons
who merely develop dermatitis can progress to more serious reactions with
continued exposure.
[snip]
Incidentally, latex condoms have not, as yet, caused difficulty becuase
their manufacture is more stringently controlled."
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Alright, ladies, how do you feel about this? We've been batting glove
protection around for a while now, and I myself use at least the latex
finger cots. It never occurred to me that our practice could have
damaging consequences to the babies involved (possibly even moms), and
that does concern me because of their underdeveloped immune system and
oral mucosa exposure. I'm interested in your thoughts on this sticky wicket.
-Lisa
Santa Maria, CA
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Lisa Marasco, BA, LLLL, IBCLC
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