Latex Allergy

When Natasha was little, we discovered she had a contact allergy to latex. On her first birthday, as proud first-time parents, we invited family and friends over for her first birthday party. She was obviously too young to understand that she was the star of the show, but we still wanted to make it extra special for her. I decided to make our front room magical for her by having 50 silver and lilac helium balloons floating from the ceiling. She was mesmerised by them, laughing and trying to reach up and catch them. However, within 20 minutes we noticed that her cheeks and hands had become inflamed and itchy - the balloons had caused an allergic reaction.

I'm pleased to say that by the time she was 6 or 7 years old, she was no longer allergic to latex and had completely outgrown this allergy. I do however clearly remember my panic whenever we were in hospital and doctors approached to examine her wearing medical gloves or even when she was at a dental check-up - the gloves used then were always made from latex.

A latex allergy can cause itchy hives as it did for Natasha but it can also for those more sensitive to it, trigger anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions can be caused just by touching latex rubber products, such as gloves or balloons but for others it can trigger allergic asthma just breathing in the latex particles that have been released into the air when someone for instance removes latex gloves from their hands.

@nonutsandme (via Instagram) recently told us that on a restaurant menu she saw that they stated their beef burgers were prepared by staff wearing latex gloves. It would obviously be better if they were 'latex-free' gloves, especially as they are so widely available now, but it's good practice to offer this information to their customers.

Latex can be found in other products too such as rubbers (erasers), condoms and diaphragms, rubber household gloves, catheters, dental products such as orthodontic rubber bands and in elastic in clothing.

Who knew you could be allergic to something seemingly so innocent as balloons? 🎈