ABSTRACT
Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) is a ubiquitous material found in thousands of consumer and medical products. Nearly all of the world’s latex is derived commercially from the milky cytoplasmic fluid of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. Exposure is the single most significant risk factor associated with latex allergy. Occupations with high latex exposure such as healthcare workers, rubber industry workers, agriculture workers and housekeepers are known to have a higher risk of developing latex allergy. The diagnosis of immediate Type I latex allergy begins with a thorough history and physical examination with the clinical conclusions supported by appropriate testing. The newer synthetic rubber glove made from Nitrile Butadeine rubber seems to retain all the unique characteristic of the latex glove, namely elasticity, viral impenetrability, toughness against tears as well as the ability to regain the original shape after stretching.
