Coping with Latex Allergies During Halloween

Filed in archive Latex/Rubber Allergies on October 6, 2006

Halloween is just around the corner, and I already see masks, costumes and all sorts of paraphernalia in the shops. For those with serious latex allergies, this time can be a real horror, and not just because of the spookiness of the season.

"My heart would race and there was increased pressure on my throat when I visited certain places," Huber said. "I thought it was anxiety, but when I mentioned it to my doctor, he did some tests and discovered the latex allergy. I found I was at risk to go into anaphylaxis if I even walked into stores or restaurants with, for example, latex balloons."

According to the article, latex allergy is difficult to diagnose because of the lack of standardized extracts to do skin testing with. Treatment is also very tricky and expensive, approximated at $40,000 a year and may not be covered by certain medical insurance.

The only option is Xolair shots, which Huber receives every other week. The shots are effective in blocking the IGE antibody, which Baillargeon said circulates in the blood and reacts with the latex proteins to cause allergy symptoms.

The shots are also very expensive, Huber said. A former health- care worker, she was forced to take a leave from her job due to her condition.

Now, once her COBRA insurance runs out, she will be responsible for payment for the shots -- totaling around $40,000 per year -- on her own, as her condition is pre-existing and therefore makes her ineligible for new health insurance.

Read the whole report here. The report indicate that Huber would like to form a local support group as part of Latex Allergy Awareness Week. If you're in the Norwich area and have latex allergies, maybe this is something for you, too.