Editing Latex allergy (section)

== Signs and symptoms ==
Allergic reactions to latex range from [[Type I hypersensitivity]], the most serious form of reaction, to [[Type IV hypersensitivity]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sussman |first1=Gordon L. |last2=Tarlo |first2=Susan |last3=Dolovich |first3=Jerry |title=The Spectrum of IgE-Mediated Responses to Latex |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/386099 |journal=JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association |date=June 5, 1991 |volume=265 |issue=21 |pages=2844–2847 |doi=10.1001/jama.1991.03460210090035 |pmid=2033741 |access-date=December 29, 2021|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Rate of onset is [[Proportionality (mathematics)|directly proportional]] to the degree of allergy: Type I responses will begin showing symptoms within minutes of exposure to latex, while Type IV responses may take hours or days to appear.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hamilton |first1=Robert G. |title=Diagnosis of natural rubber latex allergy |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1046202302000488 |journal=Methods |date=May 2002 |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=22–31 |doi=10.1016/S1046-2023(02)00048-8 |pmid=12079414 |access-date=December 29, 2021|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Most commonly, latex allergy presents with [[hives]] at the point of contact, followed by [[rhinitis]]. The most common physiological reaction to latex exposure is [[dermatitis]] at the point of contact, which gives way to soreness, itching, and redness. [[Angioedema]] is also a common response to oral, vaginal, or rectal contact.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Turjanmaa |first1=K. |last2=Alenius |first2=H. |last3=Mäkinen-Kiljunen |first3=S. |last4=Reunala |first4=T. |last5=Palosuo |title=Natural rubber latex allergy |journal=Allergy |year=1996 |volume=51 |issue=9 |pages=593–602 |doi=10.1111/j.1398-9995.1996.tb04678.x |pmid=8899110 |s2cid=9316811 |issn=0105-4538 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Symptoms of more severe hypersensitivity include both local and generalized hives; feelings of faintness or impending doom; [[angioedema]]; nausea and vomiting; abdominal cramps; rhinitis; [[bronchospasm]]; and [[anaphylaxis]]. Type IV responses typically include [[erythema]], blistering (forming [[Vesicle (dermatology)|vesicles]] and [[papule]]s), [[Pruritis|itching]], and [[Crust (dermatology)|crusting]] at the point of contact.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reddy |first1=Sumana |title=Latex Allergy |url=https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0101/p93.html |journal=American Family Physician |date=January 1, 1998 |volume=57 |issue=1 |pages=93–100 |pmid=9447217 |access-date=December 29, 2021}}</ref> This irritant contact dermatitis is considered a nonimmune reaction to latex.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hepner|first1=David L.|last2=Castells|first2=Mariana C.|date=April 2003|title=Latex Allergy: An Update|journal=Anesthesia & Analgesia|volume=96|issue=4|pages=1219–1229|doi=10.1213/01.ANE.0000050768.04953.16|pmid=12651689|s2cid=2753609|doi-access=free}}</ref> The degree of reaction is directly proportional to the duration of exposure, as well as skin temperature.

Among those with a latex allergy, 40% will experience irritant contact dermatitis; 33.1% will experience a Type I allergic reaction; 20.4% will experience Type IV allergic contact dermatitis; and 6.5% will experience both Type I and Type IV symptoms.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Heese|first1=A.|last2=Peters|first2=K. P.|last3=Koch|first3=H. U.|date=January 1, 1997|title=Type I allergies to latex and the aeroallergenic problem|url=https://europepmc.org/article/med/9195178|journal=The European Journal of Surgery Supplement|volume=579|issue=579|pages=19–22|pmid=9195178|access-date=December 29, 2021}}</ref>