Allergy Recognition Chart
Symptom Irritation Type I Type IV
Timing of onset Minutes to hours Minutes to 1 hour 1-2 days
Sensory description Pain, burning, stinging, discomfort, exceeding itching Itching, tingling Itching first, continuing to pain as skin breaks down
% of population reacting Large percent Small percent, except in special cases Small percent
Appearance Redness, crusting, skin thickens, swells, fissures, scabbing sores, drying, papules, peeling Pink raised areas, hives often blanched in the center, swelling Redness, crusting, thickening of skin, swelling, papules, drying, peeling, vesicles
Fissures or papules Prone to fissures No fissures or papules Sores not fissures
Appearance of skin touching latex Glazed, parched, scalded appearance Tight due to swelling, no dryness Dry and crusted
Healing (unoccluded) Follows substance removal (0-2 weeks) Condition diminishes within hours of glove abstinence Condition may not diminish after glove abstinence (but may within 1-2 weeks)
History of allergies General population mix Most reactors have a history of allergies Most reactors have a history of allergies
Boundaries of the reaction Sharp, definite, may show border of gown cuff under glove Undefined, may be under glove or whole body Undefined, may be under glove or move up the arm
Tendency to spread No, inflammation limited to glove contact area Yes, may spread beyond glove contact areas Yes, may spread beyond glove contact areas
Respiratory involvement None Wheezing, runny nose, difficulty breathing None
Facial involvement Possible only by contacting face with glove irritant Swelling of eyelids, lips, face, tearing, itchy eyes None
Systemic involvement None Nausea, abdominal cramps, rapid heart rate, hives, dyspnea, hypertension, shock None
How acquired Skin contact Skin, mucous membrane, or open wound contact, injection aspiration Skin contact