The best way to treat latex allergy is to avoid latex. There is no cure for allergy, and continued exposure to latex may make the condition worse.
Antihistamines may be used to control some symptoms, but they also may help mask allergic reactions to small amounts of latex in the environment.
Latex is a very complex biological compound, and the specific proteins within latex that cause allergic reactions have not been fully identified and characterized and may vary from person to person. Therefore, there is no standardized extract, so immunotherapy (allergy shots) is not currently a treatment option.
This information has been approved by Karin Pacheco, MD (March 2009).
