Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is a systemic allergic reaction that can be fatal within minutes, either through swelling that shuts off airways or through a dramatic drop in blood pressure. Anaphylaxis occurs in allergic individuals when they are exposed to an allergen to which they are allergicthis is almost always a protein that is treated by the immune system as a foreign substance. Contact with or ingestion of this allergen will set off a chain reaction in a person's immune system that may lead to swelling of the airways, loss of blood pressure, and loss of consciousness, resulting in anaphylactic shock. Some anaphylactic reactions involve only one organ system, such as the respiratory tract or skin. However, in anaphylaxis, several systems are usually affected simultaneously, including the upper and lower respiratory tracts, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal tract.
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Biohazard precautions
It is commonly acknowledged that the sudden, large-scale increase in latex glove use by health care workers since the 1980s lies at the heart of the growing problem of latex allergy. As health care workers sought to protect themselves from AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, latex glove use became virtually universal in hospitals and other medical and dental facilities. Patients, and especially health care workers, were exposed to more latex than ever before, and many have become sensitized to it.
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People have varying degrees of sensitivity to latex that depend on several factors including the amount and type of latex exposure. Those who are most at risk of suffering from latex allergies include individuals who come in frequent contact with latex, mainly health care workers, and those who suffer from other allergies.
In general, a person's allergic reactions to latex become progressively worse with continued exposure, requiring less protein to trigger a reaction.
The severity of a particular allergic reaction to latex depends on several factors:
Individuals most at risk of suffering from latex allergy include those who are frequently exposed to latex and those who have other allergies.
The highly exposed
Latex allergy seems to occur in people who develop a sensitivity to it after repeated exposures. The people who are at greatest risk of suffering allergic reactions to latex include:
http://www.anaphylaxis.com/pro/6_1_3.cfm
Biohazard precautions
It is commonly acknowledged that the sudden, large-scale increase in latex glove use by health care workers since the 1980s lies at the heart of the growing problem of latex allergy. As health care workers sought to protect themselves from AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, latex glove use became virtually universal in hospitals and other medical and dental facilities. Patients, and especially health care workers, were exposed to more latex than ever before, and many have become sensitized to it.
http://www.anaphylaxis.com/pro/6_2_3.cfm
People have varying degrees of sensitivity to latex that depend on several factors including the amount and type of latex exposure. Those who are most at risk of suffering from latex allergies include individuals who come in frequent contact with latex, mainly health care workers, and those who suffer from other allergies.
In general, a person's allergic reactions to latex become progressively worse with continued exposure, requiring less protein to trigger a reaction.
The severity of a particular allergic reaction to latex depends on several factors:
- Degree to which a person has been sensitized to latex
- Amount of latex protein to which a person is exposed at any given time
- Whether the latex comes into contact with skin, mucous membranes, or internal body tissues
Individuals most at risk of suffering from latex allergy include those who are frequently exposed to latex and those who have other allergies.
The highly exposed
Latex allergy seems to occur in people who develop a sensitivity to it after repeated exposures. The people who are at greatest risk of suffering allergic reactions to latex include:
- Health care professionals
- Cafeteria workers
- Janitors
- Children with congenital defects (such as spina bifida)
- People who have had several surgeries
- Individuals with congenital urinary tract problems16