Immediate Systemic Allergic Reactions to Latex Rubber

Immediate systemic allergic reactions to latex rubber have been reported only in the last several years. Previously, most reactions reported were of contact dermatitis. Some of these allergic systemic reactions have been thought to be due to the corn starch talc on rubber gloves.(1) In those cases reported by Turjanmaa(2) and by Axelsson,(3) most of these patients had other manifestations of atopy. In the 3 cases reported here, 2 of the 3 had no other history of atopy. In none of the 3 were the reactions due to corn starch.