Measures for treatment of

Medication as drops, tablets, injections, etc., can be Products with latex Non-Latex alternatives ne c e s s a r y as immediate measures, depending on locati o n , For babies Dummies (pacifiers), teats Silicone-containing products; form, and seriousness of latex allergy symptoms. This (nipples) on bottles, nappies () from will eliminate, relieve, and suppress allergy symptoms: some nappies (diapers) other manufacturers but only while the medication is applied. School and work Pencil erasers (rubbers), Products with vinyl adhesive, cosmetics or silicone Treatment of the cause of latex allergy – such as specific Underwear, , elastic in Elastic fibres made of Latex Allergy immunotherapy – is now undergoing clinical trials. It underwear etc., rubber , Elasthan, boots made rubber lining on windbrea k e r s of PVC, clothing made A Guide for Patients will be available in the future. and raingear, soles, of non- for children If you suffer from an immediate-type allergy to natural Housework Rubber , hot-water Household gloves made rubber latex, you should use protective gloves without bottles, household gloves, of PVC or vinyl-neoprene latex, and you should always carry emergency medication garden hosepipes, adhesive on postage stamps, (such as adrenaline, antihistamines, or corti c o s t e ro i d s ) . electrical cables Ask your doctor. Sports and Tennis balls, basketballs, Articles made of games bowling balls, swimming , Ge r man Technical Regulations for Dangerous Substances goggles, ski goggles, rubber polyurethane, silicone, (TRGS 540 and 907) now classify boats, racket handles, or leather balloons, swimming , latex as a substance which can sensitise the res p i r a t o r y air mattresses, wrestling mats, passages and the skin. These regulations now stipulate diver’s gear that non-powdered, low- gloves must be used Household Carpet linings, rubber matting Articles with polyurethane furnishings under tablecloths etc., or leather, synthetic instead of powdered latex gloves, which are no longer latex mattresses mattresses allowed. There is still the danger, though, that you, as Medical , diaphragms, Condoms of polyurethane latex allergy suff e re r, could someday come into contact products sticking-plasters, bandages, (e.g., Avanti®, available at with natural rubber latex as a result of emergency gloves for surge r y and medical pharmacies), latex-free examination, blood-pressure gloves made of vinyl medical treatment. See about having your doctor issue cuffs, infusion systems or you an allergy passport which contains your latex allergy .

Exception: Latex paints do not contain natural rubber latex. They have a synthetic-latex or acrylic basis.

For detailed information on everyday articles containing

natural rubber latex, as well as for non-latex alterna t i v e s ,

check out the following Web site for extensive English

links on latex allergy: www.laiv.de (click on "Das Link-

Karussell”, then look to the bottom of the page shown

for the English links). A L L E R G Y PA S S P O RT S E RV I C E A l l e rg o p h a rma Joachim Ganzer KG S E R V I C E S E RV I C E D-21462 Reinbek, Ge r m a n y • Phone +49 (0)40 7 27 65 - 0 • ww w. a l l e rg o p h a r m a . c o m PRO G R A M M Latex allergy

Allergy is an exaggerated, harmful defence reaction of Just what is latex? What contains latex? the body that is triggered by . Certain tropical plants contain latex, a milky fluid. How often does natural rubber latex allergy The best-known is the rubber tree, Hevea (latex allergy) occur? How dangerous is it? brasiliensis, the source of latex as raw material for rubber products. Other plants besides A considerable increase in latex has become the rubber tree also apparent since the early 1980s. This is because latex What symptoms can contain latex: products have become more widely used, especially for latex gloves cause? for example, the protection from AIDS and other infectious diseases. popular weeping a) Inhalative latex allergy By 1997 around 1 billion latex gloves were being used Chinese banyan can be triggered by proteins that bind to the every year in Germany, about 75% of them powdered (Ficus benjamina), powder in latex gloves. This allergy can lead to runny (with use of powder now on the decline). the poinsettia, and nose, itching eyes, and . It is enough if powdered hops (in beer). Around 2% of the world population is allergic to latex. gloves have only been used somewhere in a doctor’s Some groups of persons are especially likely to suffer from office, since this will release latex proteins into the air. Because of cross-reactivity, eating certain foods can latex allergy, including the following: also cause latex allergy sufferers to experience allergic b) Latex-contact urticaria () can also lead to reactions. Some of these foods are: Medical personnel (up to 18%) asthma, runny nose, and itching eyes. Pineapples • Bananas • Kiwis • Stone fruit (e.g., Workers in the rubber industry The symptoms of the syndromes stated above typically peaches and plums) • Mangoes • Melons • appear 5 to 30 min after first latex contact. The most Sufferers from (up to 8%): dangerous consequences can be anaphylactic shock. • Raw potatoes • Raw tomatoes • Sweet patients with neurodermatitis, chestnuts • Peanuts • Almonds , and often conjunctivitis If symptoms of this kind appear after contact with articles In addition, products such as milk casein can also be and asthma containing latex, you should consult a doctor or allergy specialist, who will make the required diagnosis. added in the production of latex gloves. This can also Persons susceptible to hand eczema cause allergic reactions, especially among children. If you do in fact suffer from latex allergy, you should take Latex allergy tests should also include this possibility, Children with , a congenital defect of the every precaution to avoid articles containing latex. even though it is rare. spine, as well as other deformities often requiring surgery (up to 72%) There are around 40,000 products on the market that contain latex, which means that the latex allergy sufferer Chronically ill persons with multiple operations. can come into contact with latex almost everyw h e r e, some- Of all latex allergy suffe r ers, 2.5% develop allergic asthma. times without realising it. The next page contains a small The longer the allergy patient has contact with latex at work, selection of latex products and some latex-free alterna t i v e s . the greater this danger. With daily use of latex articles, it takes an average of 3 – 5 years for latex allergy to appear. Women appear to be more endangered than men.