Having a surgical procedure may be daunting enough, but what if some of the tools that are meant to help you can actually endanger your life? This may be the case if you are allergic to latex.
Studies indicate that up to a quarter of allergic or anaphylactic reactions during surgery are due to latex allergies. Almost 7 percent of people may have an allergy to latex, and with tens of thousands of products containing this plant extract, for those with a latex allergy many everyday objects — let alone medical ones — may take on a menacing form.
For people with a latex allergy, exposure to the proteins in latex causes an immune reaction that produces specific antibodies. Repeated exposure sensitizes the body, increasing the risk of a more serious reaction.
“People can have systemic (affecting the whole body) as well as localized reactions; there’s a variety of manifestations including asthma, swelling, hives, or hay fever,” says Clifford Bassett, MD, medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, and one of the leading experts on latex allergy. Allergic reactions to latex can also include nausea, abdominal pains, a drop in blood pressure, a rise in heart rate, and at the very worst, an anaphylactic reaction.
Managing Your Latex Allergy
If you have a latex allergy, you should wear a medical alert bracelet, which can lead to a discussion before elective surgery, and be lifesaving in an emergency situation.
Jordan Fink, MD, program director of immunotherapy at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, stresses how people with latex allergy have to be proactive. They “need to be forceful when telling the doctor about their latex allergy” and be “certain that the latex allergy is identified in the chart and at the bedside,” says Dr. Fink.
However, “even people that are aware of it sometimes just forget to tell a doctor,” says Dr. Bassett. “I saw a patient once and every time she ate in a restaurant where people used latex gloves, she’d have anaphylaxis, but when I asked her why she didn’t tell anyone, she said 'I forgot.'”
A huge number of latex-containing products are used in surgery, so it is important, if you have a latex allergy, to ask about all of the possible equipment to be used. These days, most hospitals have at least one latex-free operating room or a latex-free procedure tray.
What If You Don’t Know If You Have a Latex Allergy?
It may be that you have not had a severe enough reaction to latex, or maybe you had an allergic reaction but didn’t know to what. If this sounds familiar, it is absolutely vital to alert your doctors to your suspicion. “Take a step backward,” says Bassett, and “look at your history.” If you fit into this category, it is essential to discuss a possible latex allergy before undergoing a surgical procedure. “It is vital that people bring the most up-to-date medical information to the surgeon to make sure that there is no additional risk or dangers,” adds Bassett.
Make sure all medical staff is aware of any allergic reaction you may have had. Some may not seem related, but an allergic reaction to some fruits or vegetables has been linked to a latex allergy, as have allergies of unknown origin, such as a local or general reaction following a medical examination at the dentist, proctologist, or ob-gyn, or when using a household item. It is also important to mention your profession and past medical history. People at risk include those already exposed to latex, such as health care workers, as well as those who have undergone previous surgeries.
If there is any cause for concern, visit a dermatologist or allergist, urges Bassett. “The best test we have right now is a blood test, which is at least 70-80 percent correct in terms of its sensitivity.”
Most surgeons will ask about allergies prior to performing a procedure, but it is always better to be proactive and disclose any such information. Don't be afraid to speak up.