Latex allergy - better not to use latex mattress

Latex allergy is a medical term encompassing a range of allergic reactions to the proteins present in natural rubber latex.^[1]

The immune system of some susceptible individuals produces antibodies that react immunologically with these antigenic proteins.^[2]

As many items contain or are made from natural rubber, including shoe soles, elastic bands, rubber gloves, condoms, baby-bottle nipples, and balloons, there are many possible routes of exposure that may trigger a reaction.

People with latex allergies may also have or develop allergic reactions to some fruits, such as bananas.^[3]

Latex-fruit syndrome[edit]

People who have latex allergy may also have or develop an allergic response to some plants and/or products of these plants such as fruits. This is known as the latex-fruit syndrome.^[12] Fruits (and seeds) involved in this syndrome include banana, pineapple, avocado, chestnut, kiwi fruit, mango, passionfruit, fig, strawberry and soy. Some but not all of these fruits contain a form of latex. Hevein-like protein domains^[13] are a possible cause for allergen cross-reactivity between latex and banana^[14] or fruits in general.^[15]

Risk Factors

• People who have had multiple surgical procedures, especially in childhood.^[9]

Epidemiology[edit]

Estimates of latex sensitivity in the general population range from 0.8% to 8.2%.^[27]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latex_allergy