What is latex allergy?
Latex is natural rubber, a product made primarily from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. Some people develop allergic reactions after repeated contact with latex, especially latex gloves. Allergy to latex is an increasing health problem.
What are the symptoms?
Latex reactions can vary from minor to life-threatening, or they may progress from a less serious reaction to a more serious one. Examples include:
Skin reactions such as contact dermatitis, hives, or generalized itching.
Respiratory reactions. A person who is having a mild respiratory reaction may sneeze, cough, or have a runny nose. A person who is having a severe respiratory reaction may develop shortness of breath from swelling of the throat (angioedema) or severe wheezing (allergic asthma).
Life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).
Who is affected by latex allergy?
Latex allergy usually affects people who are routinely exposed to rubber products, such as health care workers and rubber industry workers, and people who have had multiple surgeries or multiple medical procedures in which latex equipment and supplies were used.
What increases the risk of latex allergy?
People who have allergies to foods, such as bananas, chestnuts, kiwifruit, avocados, and tomatoes, have an increased risk of developing latex allergy. People with latex allergies may develop allergies to these foods because the protein in these foods is similar to the protein in rubber. Latex allergies are also more common in people who have a history of atopic dermatitis, a skin condition that causes intense itching and a red, raised rash.
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Friday, March 27, 2009
Allergies to Insect Stings - Treatment Overview
http://www.thankhealth.net/html/Diseases-Conditions/Allergy/Overview/200903/153.html
Treatment Overview
Key treatment points
For normal reactions to insect stings, medical treatment is usually not needed. An ice pack or cold compress may reduce swelling and pain, along with taking a nonprescription pain reliever, such as acetaminophen.
If you have a large local reaction that spreads around the sting or affects an entire limb, taking an antihistamine can reduce your overall symptoms.
Systemic allergic reactions involve your whole body and are considered a medical emergency. If you have had a severe systemic reaction to an insect sting in the past, carry an allergy kit with you so that, when stung, you can immediately treat yourself with the antihistamine tablet and epinephrine injection from the kit. Always seek emergency care after an epinephrine injection—your symptoms could reappear or become worse for several hours after the first epinephrine injection.
If your systemic reaction gets worse, you may develop anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening response to the insect venom. Emergency medical attention is needed. Call 911 or seek immediate treatment in a hospital emergency room. Medicines will be given to reduce swelling, open your airway to help you breathe, and stabilize your blood pressure.
Allergies to insect stings are treated by avoiding the insects that cause the allergy, treating mild cases with medicines such as antihistamines, and understanding how and when to use an allergy kit for serious reactions.
Special care must be taken with children who have insect sting allergies. A child with a severe allergy may have life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to even tiny amounts of venom from the insect. Your child should always wear a medical alert bracelet and carry an allergy kit. Children at risk for severe allergic reactions should keep allergy kits at school or day care as well as at home. Make sure that all caregivers—such as school administrators, teachers, friends, and coaches—know about the insect sting allergy, where the allergy kit is kept, and how and when to give the epinephrine injection. Also, make sure they have a plan to transport your child to the hospital. Older, mature children should be taught to give self-injections.
Immediate treatment for an allergic reaction to an insect sting depends on the type and severity of your symptoms.
Total 4 Pages: [1] [2] [3] [4] Next
Treatment Overview
Key treatment points
For normal reactions to insect stings, medical treatment is usually not needed. An ice pack or cold compress may reduce swelling and pain, along with taking a nonprescription pain reliever, such as acetaminophen.
If you have a large local reaction that spreads around the sting or affects an entire limb, taking an antihistamine can reduce your overall symptoms.
Systemic allergic reactions involve your whole body and are considered a medical emergency. If you have had a severe systemic reaction to an insect sting in the past, carry an allergy kit with you so that, when stung, you can immediately treat yourself with the antihistamine tablet and epinephrine injection from the kit. Always seek emergency care after an epinephrine injection—your symptoms could reappear or become worse for several hours after the first epinephrine injection.
If your systemic reaction gets worse, you may develop anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening response to the insect venom. Emergency medical attention is needed. Call 911 or seek immediate treatment in a hospital emergency room. Medicines will be given to reduce swelling, open your airway to help you breathe, and stabilize your blood pressure.
Allergies to insect stings are treated by avoiding the insects that cause the allergy, treating mild cases with medicines such as antihistamines, and understanding how and when to use an allergy kit for serious reactions.
Special care must be taken with children who have insect sting allergies. A child with a severe allergy may have life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to even tiny amounts of venom from the insect. Your child should always wear a medical alert bracelet and carry an allergy kit. Children at risk for severe allergic reactions should keep allergy kits at school or day care as well as at home. Make sure that all caregivers—such as school administrators, teachers, friends, and coaches—know about the insect sting allergy, where the allergy kit is kept, and how and when to give the epinephrine injection. Also, make sure they have a plan to transport your child to the hospital. Older, mature children should be taught to give self-injections.
Immediate treatment for an allergic reaction to an insect sting depends on the type and severity of your symptoms.
Total 4 Pages: [1] [2] [3] [4] Next
Should I have allergy shots for allergies to insect stings?
http://www.thankhealth.net/html/Diseases-Conditions/Allergy/Overview/200903/149.html
Introduction
This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor's recommendation.
Key points in making your decision
Your decision about having allergy shots (immunotherapy) for allergies to insect stings will involve several issues regarding your current health and the likelihood that you might develop severe reactions to stings in the future. If your child is allergic to insect stings, these same factors will affect the decision about having allergy shots. Consider the following when making your decision:
If you have been stung in the past and had a systemic (whole-body) allergic reaction to the sting, you have a high risk of having a similar reaction if stung again.
If you had an anaphylactic (life-threatening) reaction in the past, immunotherapy significantly reduces your risk of having another severe systemic reaction from 60% to 3%.1
You may not need allergy shots if you had a normal (localized) reaction or a large localized allergic reaction to an insect sting in the past. Only about 1% to 10% of people with localized reactions to insect stings progress to a more serious, systemic allergic reaction.2
If you have taken allergy tests that identified one or more sensitivities to insect stings, immunotherapy can prevent life-threatening reactions and also reduce anxiety associated with insect stings.
Allergy shots may not be safe for you if you have an impaired immune system or certain kinds of heart problems.
Allergy shots are uncomfortable and costly, may trigger anaphylaxis in some people, and usually take 3 to 5 years to complete.
Total 6 Pages: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Next
Introduction
This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor's recommendation.
Key points in making your decision
Your decision about having allergy shots (immunotherapy) for allergies to insect stings will involve several issues regarding your current health and the likelihood that you might develop severe reactions to stings in the future. If your child is allergic to insect stings, these same factors will affect the decision about having allergy shots. Consider the following when making your decision:
If you have been stung in the past and had a systemic (whole-body) allergic reaction to the sting, you have a high risk of having a similar reaction if stung again.
If you had an anaphylactic (life-threatening) reaction in the past, immunotherapy significantly reduces your risk of having another severe systemic reaction from 60% to 3%.1
You may not need allergy shots if you had a normal (localized) reaction or a large localized allergic reaction to an insect sting in the past. Only about 1% to 10% of people with localized reactions to insect stings progress to a more serious, systemic allergic reaction.2
If you have taken allergy tests that identified one or more sensitivities to insect stings, immunotherapy can prevent life-threatening reactions and also reduce anxiety associated with insect stings.
Allergy shots may not be safe for you if you have an impaired immune system or certain kinds of heart problems.
Allergy shots are uncomfortable and costly, may trigger anaphylaxis in some people, and usually take 3 to 5 years to complete.
Total 6 Pages: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Next
Immunotherapy for allergies to insect stings
source:http://www.thankhealth.net/html/Diseases-Conditions/Allergy/Overview/200903/150.html
Treatment Overview
Immunotherapy is a series of allergy shots given to reduce your sensitivity to allergens that cause an allergic reaction. Small doses of allergens are injected under the skin. Over time, allergy shots can decrease the severity of your reaction to allergens. To treat allergies to insect stings, very small amounts of the venom of the insect or insects are used. The treatment also is sometimes called venom immunotherapy (VIT).
Immunotherapy is available to treat allergies to stings from:
Honeybees.
Yellow jackets.
Hornets.
Paper wasps.
Fire ants.
A solution of dilute saline containing a very small amount of the insect venom is injected under the skin. At first, you get one or more shots about once a week. The amount of allergen injected is slightly increased each time, unless you have a reaction to the shot.
After about 4 to 6 months of weekly shots, you are usually getting an optimal amount of allergen in the shot—this is called the maintenance dose. After you reach maintenance level, you get the same dose in shots every 4 weeks for another 4 to 6 months.
After the first year of shots, you will have maintenance shots every 6 to 8 weeks over the next 3 to 5 years.1
Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend rush immunotherapy. Several shots are given over a period of days to weeks. This type of treatment can provide faster protection in the short term. But you will still need to have regular shots over the long term.
Total 4 Pages: [1] [2] [3] [4] Next
Treatment Overview
Immunotherapy is a series of allergy shots given to reduce your sensitivity to allergens that cause an allergic reaction. Small doses of allergens are injected under the skin. Over time, allergy shots can decrease the severity of your reaction to allergens. To treat allergies to insect stings, very small amounts of the venom of the insect or insects are used. The treatment also is sometimes called venom immunotherapy (VIT).
Immunotherapy is available to treat allergies to stings from:
Honeybees.
Yellow jackets.
Hornets.
Paper wasps.
Fire ants.
A solution of dilute saline containing a very small amount of the insect venom is injected under the skin. At first, you get one or more shots about once a week. The amount of allergen injected is slightly increased each time, unless you have a reaction to the shot.
After about 4 to 6 months of weekly shots, you are usually getting an optimal amount of allergen in the shot—this is called the maintenance dose. After you reach maintenance level, you get the same dose in shots every 4 weeks for another 4 to 6 months.
After the first year of shots, you will have maintenance shots every 6 to 8 weeks over the next 3 to 5 years.1
Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend rush immunotherapy. Several shots are given over a period of days to weeks. This type of treatment can provide faster protection in the short term. But you will still need to have regular shots over the long term.
Total 4 Pages: [1] [2] [3] [4] Next
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