Latex Allergies
Latex is a plastic-like rubber material made from the secretions of the rubber tree. Due to the stretchy yet strong nature of latex, doctors and nurses often wear latex gloves to help prevent the spread of germs during examinations and other procedures. However, some people’s immune systems mistakenly attack the proteins in latex as if it was a pathogen. These allergic reactions can cause debilitating symptoms.
Doctors and nurses should always make sure that you do not have latex allergies before they use any latex products around you. However, if they fail to perform this simple check, you can suffer from adverse reactions to the latex. If you have been negligently exposed to latex and suffered a reaction, you should contact a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney from Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today at 215-238-1130 to discuss your legal options.
Sources of Latex
Despite the frequency of allergic reactions to dipped latex, or the stretchy latex found in gloves, many latex-containing products can still be found at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Potential sources of latex include:
- Surgical masks
- Intravenous (IV) tubing
- Syringes
- Blood pressure cuffs
- Respirators
Symptoms of Latex Allergies
You can be exposed to latex-laden products either by touch or by inhaling latex particles in the air. Often, someone with a latex allergy can suffer from increasingly worse symptoms the more they are exposed. Common symptoms of latex allergies, ranging from mild to severe, include:
- Itching
- Redness
- Hives/rash
- Sneezing
- Itchy throat
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
If a person goes into anaphylactic shock after latex exposure, this dangerous condition can be deadly. Talk to a lawyer immediately if you have suffered because a doctor or other medical provider ignored your latex allergy.
Contact Us
If you have been exposed to latex as a result of negligence on the part of a medical professional, you may be eligible to receive compensation. Contact a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer from Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130 for a free case evaluation.