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About latex - We learn about latex

Although we all have heard about natural latex, do we really know what it is, where it can be found and all the problems it produces?

We all have heard about natural rubber but, do we know that it is the same as natural latex?

Both names latex and rubber refer and may be applied to natural or synthetic (man-made) materials. But the ones that produce latex allergy are the natural ones, that is those comming from vegetal origin material, and there are more than 200 species that have proteins which are similar to the ones coming from the rubber tree. Some examples are : the medlar tree, the fig tree, the ficus, the poensetia. But the most popular vegetal used to produce latex and rubber is a tree called "Hevea Brasiliensis" also known as "Rubber Tree", since it is the one that has more amout of latex in its final product.

Where can we find latex? Appart from gloves, balloons and condoms, in more than 40.000 products such as for example: balls, dolls, figures, bycicle handlebars, dashboards, swiming pool fittings, racket handles, floorclothes, brooms, clothes' rubber bands, computer's mice, paving or road surfaces, adhesives, gaskets for windows and doors, banisters, etc. And within the health-care field products such as for example: bandages, dressings, catheters, draining devices, masks, gloves, serum devices, medication supplying stoppers, and a great many of products.

The problem with latex - rubber is that by using them in a continuous and regular way make some pelple's organism recognize them as an "enemy" from which they have to defend themselves by manifestations such as hives, inflammations, watering eyes, sneezing, runny nose, non productive cough, shortness of breath, and they may even suffer an anafilactic shock. That is natural latex-rubber produces allergy.

WHAT'S THE DISEASE LIKE?

Latex allergy is always an acquired disease, it is not a diesease since birth.
Latex allergy cannot be transmitted.
Latex allergy has no privacy, since it affects to any scope of life.
Latex allergy, with the current knowledge, can only be treated safely by avoiding latex. Once the allergic reactions occur, the medical treatment is the one recommended by the specialist to each patient for each symptom ( rhinitis, conjunctivitis, hives, edema, non productive cogh, sneezing, ...anafilactic shock).

WHO CAN BE ALLERGIC TO LATEX?

Anyone at any age can acquire latex allergy.
We already know that latex allergy is acquired by having contact with natural latex, so the people at more risk to develop this allergy are those who due to their job are regularly in contact with latex products.
For example:

• Rubber manufacturing staff.
• Healh-care staff.
• Laboratory staff.
• Cleaning staff.
• Hairdresser's and beautician staff.
• Building workers.
• Food handling workers.

Other people at risk to develop latex allergy are those who due to medical reasons have to undergo surgical procedures, and/or clinical tests, and/or examinatios and/or long-term-stays at healh-care centers.
Children that have been born with any illness or anomaly and who since their birth are forced to undergo through any of the situations descibed above.
There are also people who even not belonging to any of the groups described above present a certain predisposition to develop latex allergy, those are the ones that already suffer from other allergies and/or have atopic dermatitis.

IF YOU KNOW LATEX ALLERGY: YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AVOID IT AND TO HELP US.

IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO LATEX OR YOU SIMPLY WOULD LIKE TO HELP TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL THE PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO LATEX, JOIN US.

TOGETHER WE WILL MANAGE TO GET OUR PURPOSE