Question and Answer
1. Do your products contain latex?
2. What is a latex allergy?
3. What is natural rubber latex?
4. Can a latex allergy be life threatening?
1. Do your products contain latex?
The majority of our
products are latex-free, with the exception of some of the foot orthotics, that
are made out of natural rubber. For specific information, please view the
product you are interested in or contact customer service at info@anatechinc.com.
2. What is a latex allergy?
A "latex allergy" is an allergy to products made from natural rubber latex. It is an allergy to proteins originating from the rubber tree and still present in products made from natural rubber latex.
Although products made from natural rubber latex usually contain a number of chemicals and some people are not allergic to natural rubber latex itself, but chemicals found in manufactured natural latex rubber latex products. Your allergist will identify which materials affect you. If you react to chemicals, you may have a "rubber allergy" and may be referred to a dermatologist for further tests.3. What is natural rubber latex?
Natural rubber latex
is a particular kind of rubber that has been manufactured from the sap of the
rubber tree. Rubber tree sap, or natural rubber latex, is a cloudy white
liquid (a chemical "Latex") containing a large amount of natural
rubber that can be used to manufacture various consumer products. Natural rubber latex products cannot be
identified visually. Any rubber-like object could be made of natural
rubber latex, or it could be made of synthetic material (including synthetic
rubber). Even things which are not stretchy may have natural rubber latex
on them as a paint-like coating.
4. Can a latex allergy be life threatening?
While it is uncommon, some latex allergic individuals can suffer a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction when they come in contact with natural rubber latex.
This serious reaction is called anaphylactic shock. It occurs within minutes of exposure, and is characterized by generalized hives, breathing difficulties and low blood pressure. Anaphylactic shock may be fatal and must be promptly treated by adrenalin injection.
Anaphylactic shock is most likely to occur during direct tissue contact with natural rubber latex products. Direct contact occurs when the skin barrier which protects you has been broken, or the contact is across a mucous membrane. Mucous membrane contact can occur in the mouth (e.g. blowing up a balloon, dental surgery, anesthetic administration), vagina (condom use, vaginal examination), rectum and colon (examination or enema administration), or urethra (catheterization). Direct tissue contact occurs during surgery because surgeons normally wear natural rubber latex gloves when operating on a patient.