As there is no cure for latex allergy (see 'Does latex allergy go away?'), you will need to take several steps to manage your condition.

These are:

• make sure you get hold of good quality, accurate information about latex to enable you to avoid it where possible – reading this site is a good way to do this!
  
  
• learn when it is practical to substitute latex products with non-latex products (see 'What things contain latex?')
  
  
• understand what the treatments are for reactions in case you have one (see the 'treatment page')
  
  
• be prepared in case of the unlikely event of a severe reaction

Information

It is very important that people with latex allergy and their families have a basic understanding of the nature of latex allergy, what it means to have it, and how it can be managed.

This website information tool aims to provide enough information to meet this need.

Some people will wish to find out more information about latex allergy from the internet, and it may be difficult to know where to start, as there are so many sites available. The links we have supplied on this web-site are, in our opinion, reliable sources of further information.

A leaflet which provides some simple information and guidance about latex allergy can be accessed by clicking here - print off both pages back-to-back and fold in three for a handy reference guide

You might find this particularly useful to give to family, friends, work colleagues and even healthcare providers if you feel your allergy is not being taken seriously.

Avoidance

The cornerstone of latex allergy management is to avoid latex (therefore avoiding the allergen).

Latex is found in a huge number of everyday products, but what you need to remember is that only a small number of these contain enough allergen to be an immediate risk to the vast majority of people with latex allergy (see 'Is latex allergy serious?').

So, it is clearly important to know what these products are. Everyone with latex allergy should avoid personal contact with:

• latex balloons
• latex condoms
• latex or natural rubber gloves

Other practical things you should do are:

• tell any healthcare worker (e.g. doctor, nurse, dentist, physiotherapist) of your allergy to make sure that s/he does not expose you to latex-containing medical equipment
• inform your employer, school, college or playgroup of your allergy to ensure a latex-safe work, study or play environment [possible link to playgroup article here]

In general, it is not possible or practical to completely remove latex from an environment, particularly in healthcare, and the realistic aim is therefore to minimise latex exposure

• this is called a latex-safe environment.

You should also be aware that you could possibly have an allergic reaction to certain fruits (see the 'fruit page').

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Substitution

There is nearly always an alternative non-latex product available, for example:

Goods often do not disclose on the label whether or not they contain NRL. If you are in any doubt, contact the manufacturer who should be able to tell you.

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Be prepared

Awareness

People with latex allergy must be aware of products and environments that are most likely to trigger reactions (see 'What things contain latex?') (see the 'fruit page')

You must also be prepared to educate health care providers, who sometimes need to be reminded about the implications of this allergy.

Show this leaflet if necessary – http://www.hse.gov.uk/latex/pdf/patientinfosheet.pdf

Latex-free medical equipment

Many people with latex allergy carry non-latex gloves with them at all times so that they can give these to health professionals to use for examinations or in an emergency

Other items such as synthetic airway and face-mask are occasionally given by physicians to very sensitive patients.

MedicAlert®

All people with latex-allergy should consider wearing a MedicAlert® bracelet or necklet (called an Emblem). This is a potentially life-saving identification system for individuals with hidden medical conditions and allergies.

For example, if someone were to be involved in an accident and unable to tell the emergency staff about their latex allergy, the emblem would serve as an important precaution to prevent inadvertent exposure to NRL medical devices.

Each member of MedicAlert® receives an Emblem that is engraved with the wearer’s main medical condition(s) or vital details, a personal ID number and a 24 hour emergency telephone number which accepts reverse charge calls that can access their details from anywhere in the world in over 100 languages.

Click here for a link to Medic Alert.

An alternative provider of medical bracelets and pendants is SOS Talisman. A link to their website can be found here.

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