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The interesting thing about latex is that it is a huge part of our society, often without being noticed. For example, carpet backing, pencil erasers, baby pacifiers, wheelchair tires, toys, balloons, and even elastic in clothing is latex. However, most people relate latex to adhesive tape used in hospitals, which is yet another example. Because so many people have latex allergy and the number of things made from latex is growing, symptoms are on the rise.

Take the healthcare industry for example – this particular area is surrounded by latex in the form of tape, surgical gloves, disposable syringes, and blood pressure cuffs. Because doctor’s offices, clinics, and hospitals use so much latex, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have released results of a study that show a minimum of 12% of all healthcare workers eventually deal with some level of latex allergy. Even so, the biggest concern regarding latex allergy relates to children with disability since their small, sick bodies are highly sensitive and susceptible, putting them at greater risk.

Keep in mind that when it comes to latex allergy, there are many different forms of reaction, some minor and some major. For instance, a Type 1 latex allergy is considered as hypersensitive, which produces symptoms ranging from minor such as watery eyes and a runny nose to more severe problems that would include nausea and vomiting, hives, and shortness of breath. With Type 1, the problem is that latex particles become airborne and then inhaled.

For Type 4 latex allergy, the reaction is limited to any exposed area. This would include someone having surgery and the bandages being held on by latex tape. The result is a skin rash and irritation, swelling, and redness that typically lasts anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. Obviously, this type of latex allergy is not nearly as serious although it is quite frustrating.

Keep in mind that latex is actually a natural product that comes from a rubber tree’s sap. Because it is so flexible, strong, and costs very little to manufacture, it takes first place over many similar manmade products. If you suspect that you have a latex allergy, you can see your doctor for a thorough examination and blood work. This test involves looking at a certain antibody called IgE immunoassays, which is performed through skin testing.

This particular test is currently being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and while it is highly accurate for proving latex allergy, it is not designed to determine the severity of the allergy. Therefore, in addition to the testing, if you have reaction to latex, you should avoid using it, turning instead to vinyl or plastic.

About The Author

Grant Segall RPh is a pharmacist and webmaster of the allergy related website http://www.allergy-allergy.com.

grant@allergy-allergy.com

This article was posted on April 20, 2005

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Just like people, animals can suffer allergic reactions to a wide variety of environmental substances, or allergens. Seasonal allergens, such as grass, tree and weed pollens are common culprits. Other allergens causing year-round symptoms include foods, molds, dust mites, insects and other materials found in the home environment.

Skin disease and allergies are some of the most difficult and frustrating problems treated in veterinary medicine today. Veterinarians report that up to 1 in 4 dogs seen in their practice are treated for allergies. Solving these dermatology cases and

establishing effective treatment can be challenging.

An appropriate allergy diagnosis consists of a thorough physical examination, which includes a complete dermatological history. Common questions asked of the pet owner include, "Is this problem seasonal? Is the problem worse indoors or outdoors? Has the pet’s environment changed recently? What are you feeding your pet?"

The clinical signs of environmental allergies in dogs and cats are pruritic, such as biting, scratching, face rubbing, feet chewing and constant licking. These result in hair loss, chronic ear infections and skin disease. Secondary infections such as pyoderma, staff and malassezia are also common.

In addition, allergic dogs will often chew on their feet until they are irritated and red (the feet are the only place dogs have sweat glands and these become inflamed with allergies). They may rub their faces on the carpet or couch, or scratch their sides and belly. Because the wax-producing glands of the ear overproduce as a response to the allergy, they get ear infections.

The skin lesions seen in an allergic dog are usually the result of him mutilating his skin through chewing and scratching. Sometimes there is hair loss, which can be patchy or inconsistent over the body leaving a mottled appearance. The skin itself may be dry and crusty, reddened, or oily depending on the dog. It is very common to get secondary bacterial infections of the skin due to these self-inflicted lesions. Such infections may be treated with antibiotics.

ELISA serum testing offers a valuable alternative to skin testing to identify the specific allergens that are causing a pet to suffer. The pet does not have to be sedated or shaved to test, and this test does not require a veterinary dermatologist. Any veterinarian can simply draw the blood and submit the serum to the laboratory for testing.

It is common for a pet to have multiple allergies, including food, inhalant and contact allergens. While allergies can never be cured, they can be managed and treated with Immunotherapy.

Pet Allergies
Bmslab is a veterinary reference laboratory specializing in allergy testing and allergy treatment for dogs, cats and horses. We offer

By Luna Mohanty Published: 4/22/2008

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 What can you do if you are allergic to bees.  The following is an article about symtoms of bee sting allergies.

Bee Stings – Wasp Stings – The simple facts and the cures

Learn the facts on Bee Stings and Wasp Stings, and the cures

What is a Bee Sting: A Bee Sting is caused by the part ‘stinger’ of a creature such as a wasp or bee, that delivers a poison when used to pierce the skin of another animal or a human.

Bee Sting Symptoms: Bee Stings can cause a lot of symptoms, but the most common is first there will be a sharp pain and burning sensation in the area of the sting. To some people this is very painful, a lot worse than getting a shot in the doctors office. The severe pain and buring is caused by the poison in the bee or wasps venom.

Other symptoms of bee stings are a redness or swelling of the local area. I swell up like a pancake near any sting site. Some people develop a rash or hives, and yet others that are very allergic to the venom will have severe problems such as swelling of the lips or throat, swelling around the eyes, throat tightness, wheezing, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lightheadedness, or passing out due to low blood pressure. If you start developing any of the severe symptoms, get to a Hospital ER right away or call an ambulance.

Bee Sting Treatment: There are a lot of treatments for Bee and Wasp Stings, and here are just a few. To ease the pain of a sting, take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Some people make a mixture of water and meat tenderizer and apply it onto the bite. Papain, an enzyme in meat tenderizer, breaks down the protein in bee venom responsible for the pain and itching. Don’t leave this on for more than 30 minutes, or it can irritate the skin and cause a rash in some people. Apply an ice pack or bag of very cold water for 10 to 30 minutes after the sting, the cold slows down the body’s allergic response.

Bee Sting Prevention: How does one prevent bee or wasp stings ? If you are outdoors in the spring or summer months, you will encounter bees and wasps. Try your best to stay away from these flying creatures if possible. If you are mowing the grass or walking, or picking berries, you will encounter a bee or wasp in time. Do not swing or react violently towards it, to do so, may excite it, causing it to attack and sting. Just try to move out of the way, or slowly react to it in a calm movement. If you see a bee or wasp inside, kill it with a fly swatter or rolled up newspaper. Do not pick up the dead wasp or bee right after it has been killed, the bee or wasps stinger will often move for over an hour by muscle or nerve reactions, making the creature able to sting a long time after it’s dead.

If you encounter a nest of bees outside and if you are sure you can safely kill them, dress for the occasion and wait until night time to spray it from a distance or very early in the morning, when it’s cool and the creatures are in their nest and are not yet active. But be warned, once you spray a nest, soak it completely and fast, it will only take a couple seconds before the creatures may start flying out and stinging, if they are not all killed right away. Once sprayed, do not walk or stand near the nest, because bees that are sprayed and slowly dying will often drop to the ground, and may crawl up your pant legs or get into your shoes.

There is a website that provides cures, facts and great information on Bee Stings and Wasp Stings and numerous other medical conditions, the website is called: All About Health, and can be found at this url:

http://www.rb59.com/medical-health-info

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970′s-80′s.

Get a Credit Card Today!

http://www.rb59.com

By Robert Benjamin Published: 6/14/2007

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Diseases Carried By Mosquitoes

It is the rare individual that loves mosquitoes. Not only is that buzzing noise and subsequent bite annoying, it can lead to far more than just an itchy bite. Yes, mosquitoes carry some very nasty, deadly diseases that can even kill you.

Mosquitoes have a unique ability to carry many of the most vicious and nasty diseases without actually being effected. Instead, they inject you with them. This occurs when the mosquito pierces your skin and injects saliva that numbs the bite area.

Malaria is probably the illness most associated with mosquitoes. Malaria is a prevalent in Asia, Africa and South America although it can be found in other areas of the world as well. As many as 300 million people catch it from mosquitoes a year.

Malaria is caused by a parasite. When a bite occurs, it heads to the liver and then reproduces. In good cases, it causes fatigue, expulsions, shakes, fever, and general misery. Dehydration is a major problem and death can occur.

While Malaria is miserable, it can’t shake a stick at Dengue Fever. Spread by mosquitoes throughout Asia and Africa, this fever causes horrific symptoms and, in worst case situations, the most miserable of deaths.

Dengue Fever is actually a collection of four viruses. When they are injected into the body by the mosquito during the bite, they immediately attack the body. Symptoms include high fever, bleeding from orifices and gums and general misery.

Encephalitis is a nasty disease transported by the mosquito host as well. It is a viral infection that severely impacts the brain by causing inflammation. The brain literally swells until it is damaged when crushed up against the skull.

Yellow Fever is another doozy transported by mosquitoes. For most people, this viral infection plays out like food poising. For roughly fifteen percent, it is much, much worse than basically anyone would want to imagine.

For the unlucky people that fall within this percentage, Yellow Fever is horrific. High temperatures do not go away. The body literally turns yellow and you bleed from orifices including the eyes. Half of those with this version die within two weeks.

There are a bevy of other diseases that are also carried by mosquitoes. Given this fact, major mosquito eradication programs have been initiated around the world and have been successful.

What about around your home? The answer is water. Wherever there is sitting water, mosquitoes can breed. Make sure to walk around the yard and eliminate all standing water.

By: John Grimmes

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

John Grimmes is with AllTerrainCo.com – natural products for people and pets living the active outdoor lifestyle.

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