An allergy is a sensitivity that some people may have to a certain substance or substances, causing the body to have severe reactions such as swelling, difficulty breathing or shock.
Allergies can develop from excessive exposure to a substance.
At Children's Healthcare of Atlanta , we believe that children with myelodysplasia are at risk for developing latex allergy, possibly because of their repeated exposure to latex during their medical treatment. Latex is often present during surgical procedures, in catheters for urinary or bowel programs and in the gloves used in routine care. Latex is a natural substance from the rubber tree that is used in many products found in the home and in hospitals. In addition, many devices in the operating room at Children's contain latex. Allergic reactions to latex may take different forms.