Latex allergy or not?

06/17/08

beachmom5

Topics:Allergy Test , Allergy , Food Allergy

I saw an allergist recently and was tested w/ bloodtest for latex allergy. It came up negative for latex,but positive (level I) for banana and kiwi. I saw her b/c for years I have had obvious problem w/ latex,worsening over this last year. I can't have husband use condoms anymore, I get UTI like symptoms,pain,itching,swelly feeling,very uncomfortable. For a while I kept getting treated for utis, but it seemed like only help was not using them at all. Then I got tape reactions from csections medical tape,bad itching,swelling, marks lasted 6m on my skin, then if I wear rubber gloves within 24hrs I have red bumps all over arms, same w/ baby nipples, I bought latex once by accident, and fingers were itching and I then I realized they were latex. For this last year I have been plagued w/ sinus issues, on and off short of breath,etc. I also noticed it was worse during my period so thought it was hormonal.THEN I read tampons can have latex,I switched to all cotton and no longer got the short of breath feeling during period. I was thinking maybe it was connected but then test shows negative. chest xrays,ct scans show no lung issues and it is not all the time, it seems like a reaction to something when it is happening, my throat will be tingly for a day or two, shortness of breath on and off feeling,etc. Then it is gone. I was also thinking seasonal, but tested negative to all 52 skin pricks. So based on a negative bloodwork even with the skin issues from touching latex do you agree w/ my doc I am not allergic?Thanks

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Answers (1)

Friday, June 27, 2008

Kathleen MacNaughton

Hi Beachmom,

Well, it certainly sounds as though you could be allergic to latex. Anecdotal evidence is often the first way we notice we are allergic to something. You present a strong pattern of symptoms arising after exposure to latex products.

I found an article by a physician on the American Family Physician website that talks about latex allergy: Read the article here

In it, she talks about latex-specific IgE testing. If your doctor did not do that particular type of test, you might ask about having the IgE test instead. Also, the article talks about allergy to banana and kiwi as being indicators of possible latex allergy.

It seems to me that with your pattern of symptoms and other allergies, you might want to get a second opinion on the latex allergy diagnosis. Meanwhile, I think it would be wise to keep avoiding latex as much as you can. You already know that you are having symptoms after exposure to it, so an official diagnosis is only going to confirm what you already are seeing. Avoiding latex can't hurt, and it could help you avoid a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.

To your health,

Kathi