The Latex Allergy Crisis: A Forgotten Epidemic: What Happened, Why it Happened, and What Happened to Me. My Experience and the experience of others living with a Latex Allergy.

The HIV panic of the 1980s prompted CDC and OSHA to mandate the use of natural rubber latex gloves in health care. The increased use of rubber gloves created a latex allergy crisis for health care workers. Articles have been written on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of latex allergy; however, there are few, if any, written experiences of those living with a hypersensitivity to latex. Author Margaret Konieczny gives a historical perpective of glove use in health care and shares her experiences as well as the experiences of others who suffer from a latex allergy in the hopes that her personal story will help others. Margaret takes us through her early symptoms, diagnosis, Worker’s Compensation issues, and employer accommodations. Latex allergies affect the whole person, from the clothing they wear, foods they eat, places they visit, and their personal lifestyle. It is their emotional well-being in addition to their physical well-being that is affected. Latex allergies are permanent. There is no cure except strict avoidance which is difficult to do; latex is ubiquitous.