Latex Allergy Foods

Dr Vincent St Aubyn Crump from Auckland Allergy Clinic gives a further insight into some of the idiosyncrasies of fruit latex and birch pollen cross-reactions.

Latex allergy foods. If you are allergic to some of these foods it would be a good idea to try to limit or avoid contact with latex because development of latex allergy is correlated to the amount of exposure a person has had to latex over the course of his lifetime. There are particular foods and fruits that are known to produce a type of substance that is similar to the rubber latex. Fruits and seeds involved in this syndrome include banana pineapple avocado chestnut kiwi fruit mango passionfruit strawberry.

The blood test involves looking for latex antibodies in a blood sample. If you have a latex allergy your body mistakes latex for a harmful substance. The most common foods described are banana avocado kiwi fruit passionfruit plums strawberry and tomato.

In fact 10-17 percent of healthcare workers and 338 percent of dental care workers have been diagnosed with latex allergy. Around half of all people with latex allergy have allergic reactions when eating particular foods including avocado banana chestnut kiwifruit passionfruit plum strawberry and tomato. There are similar proteins in natural rubber latex and certain foods most types of fruit or nuts so cross-reactivity can occur.

If you have latex allergy you also can have food allergies. This list is just informational and should not be used as a strict guideline of foods to avoid completely. If you have a latex allergy you can sometimes have reactions to certain fruits and vegetablesThese reactions occur in 30-50 of people with latex allergy.

Your doctor compares your test results with your history and physical exam to make a diagnosis of latex allergy. Latex Allergy Food List Occasionally people with latexrubber allergy may have reactions to some foods because of their latex allergy history. Latex allergy may cause itchy skin and hives or even anaphylaxis a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause throat swelling and severe difficulty breathing.

Balloons elastic bands raincoats and hot water bottles are some of the products that contain latex. Latex allergy is a reaction to certain proteins found in natural rubber latex a product made from the rubber tree. Like bananas and chestnuts avocados contain enzymes called chitinases that are associated with the latex-fruit allergy syndrome.