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. ------------------- "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." ---------------- 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 ************************************************* Lisa Marasco, BA, LLLL, IBCLC [log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask] *************************************************