What can you do to help?
It’s found in restaurants, shopping malls and hospitals. Sufferers can have reactions to such varied items as gloves, balloons and even some fruits. It affects around 1 – 6% of the population in the UK – with studies suggesting growing incidence - yet receives almost no recognition or awareness.
So what is this little known, yet life threatening allergy?
Latex allergy receives hardly any mainstream coverage and is largely misunderstood as a result. To try and improve awareness and understanding, the Anaphylaxis Campaign in conjunction with the Latex allergy Support Group (LASG) have launched an awareness raising campaign for latex allergy. Together, they hope to highlight the overwhelming impacts this allergy has on those affected and some simple things that everyone can do to make life a little easier for latex allergy sufferers.
As with all allergies, latex allergy can develop at any time. The number of people affected is on the increase, with particular groups being most at risk of developing it. Among these are healthcare workers and people with spina bifida. The Royal College of Physicians says that up to eight per cent of health workers now have an allergy to latex rubber and this could be on the increase. Other workers exposed to latex products in their employment are also at risk from developing latex allergy, including cleaners, carers, hair dressers, caterers and dental practice staff.
The findings of a survey of latex allergy sufferers by the LASG indicated that latex balloons, as frequently used in shops, restaurants and public spaces, are a major problem for those affected by latex allergy, with members reporting symptoms ranging from wheezing to potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock at worst on exposure. Symptoms can be experienced both from direct touch and even from inhalation alone, i.e. by simply being in the vicinity of balloon displays.
Latex allergy sufferer Beth lives with one form of severe, anaphylactic latex allergy. She said; "People may not be aware that latex isn’t just in balloons and gloves, it is also in everyday things...The main issue here is with awareness... Changing from using latex to synthetic alternatives, like foil, would make such a different to people like me. From my point of view, if even ten people could just realise how much of a difference changes like this would make, I would maybe be able to go to a shopping centre or restaurant without worrying about whether I’m going to stop breathing, or end up in intensive care, because that’s generally what happens, which is terrifying for me."
So what can people do to help?
The Anaphylaxis Campaign and LASG have prepared a letter that can be sent to retailers and restaurants if they are spotted using latex balloons for promotional or display purposes. This letter explains why balloons are such a risk to people with latex allergy. Alternatively, if you see balloons in shops or restaurants please tell the Anaphylaxis Campaign, who can contact outlets who are unaware of or disregard the unnecessary risks this can pose to latex allergy sufferers.
The LASG said; “[Latex] is…under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations which mandate that employers undertake risk assessments to eliminate, substitute and reduce exposure to hazardous substances, not only for their employees, but also the general public.”