latex allergy or just the adhesive?

[brownbook]

I have overheard nurses ask patients about latex allergies. I can't remember the details but if the patient states something along the lines of, "my skin was irritated under the band aid," the nurse says oh, okay, it is just an allergy to "the adhesive" not a latex allergy.

Does that make any sense? Is it just the adhesive?? Or latex?

I guess to be safe we need to err on the side of caution and state latex allergy but I'm confused!!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

If someone says something like that, it may help to ask if they can wear regular undergarments, as many (especially bras) have exposed elastic. Or if the bandaid was the latex type or the cloth type.

[Flo., BSN, RN]

I would not say that someone had a latex allergy based on that. Latex is in so many of our products that unless someone truly had an allergic rx I would not be so quick to flag them as having one. Redness under a band aid could just mean they have sensitive skin.

[SouthernPoint]

It totally makes sense to me. I am super sensitive to the adhesive on dang near everything. All it does to me is just break my skin out in a really sexy red itchy rash, but it's not anything major. I just have learned to deal with it since my HRT is a patch.

In my 15 years of nursing I have only come across 4 patient who had TRUE LATEX ALLERGIES. I was given this site by a patient for my own education on the subject. Hope it helps others.

http://tattoo.about.com/od/disease/a/latexallergies.htm

[brownbook]

Thanks, brilliant replies as usual from All-nurse nurses , ha ha. Really makes sense to just ask more i.e., elastic in undergarments. I will check out the latex site SouthernPoint.

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

I would ask the patient if s/he eats bananas, peaches, tomatoes ? If yes, then they are not allergic to latex. Not very professional but it's true.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

My DH has terrible reactions to tape and bandaids. He can have paper tape, so i just make his bandaids with that. He has no problem blowing up balloons or wearing latex gloves.

My mom, on the other hand, is highly allergic to latex. She has near constant eczema from her bra and underwear. She has to wear gloves to touch her steering wheel. She was an L&D nurse for eons and I think she probably developed her allergy there, from wearing gloves all the time.

ETA: Mother has no problem eating bananas, peaches and tomatoes, or any other kind of fruit. I don't think she is allergic to any food.

[kcksk]

Funny but I broke out in a horrible rash on my arms, lasted forever and noone could figure out what it was. Tried a dose of steroids, etc and it didn't get better. Went to the dr again and he asked if I used Latex gloves....ummm yup sure do. My arms were covered in horrible blister like rash and it was just getting worse. Did another dose of steroids, stopped using latex gloves and it cleared right up. If I ever put on latex gloves in a pinch, my hands will itch like crazy. So, I don't chance it. It goes down as a latex allergy. Had to have a few tests last year and told them what the allergy was and that I just broke out in a rash but they said no way would they chance it when latex can be avoided.