latex

latex /la·tex/ (la´teks) a viscid, milky juice secreted by some seed plants.

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la·tex (ltks)

n.

1. The colorless or milky sap of certain plants, such as the poinsettia, that coagulates on exposure to air.

2. An emulsion of rubber or plastic globules in water, used in adhesives and synthetic rubber products.

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latex adj.

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Latex

A rubber material which gloves and condoms are made from.

Mentioned in: Isolation

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latex

[lā′teks]

Etymology: L, liquid

an emulsion or fluidlike sap produced in special cells or vessels of certain plants. Latex contains resins, proteins, and other substances and is a source of rubber. It can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

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latex (lā´teks),

n natural rubber.

latex allergy,

n a hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex in which symptoms may range from minor skin irritations, hives, itchy eyes, and runny nose to asthma and life-threatening anaphylaxis. Because many items used during dental procedures contain rubber latex, patients should be routinely screened for this allergy.

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latex

A lactescent gel of molecular homogeneity, obtained from plants and composed of microglobules of natural rubber; latex may be airborne, and is present in latex gloves, dental rubber dams, condoms, barium enema catheters, other medical devices, and tires/tyres Lab medicine Latex-like particles–eg, neoprene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, and synthetic 'rubbers'; latexes are inert vehicles that may be used to carry antibodies or antigens in latex agglutination immunoassays; or rubber latex-like plastic monomer used to manufacture minute plastic beads of polystyrene

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Patient discussion about latex.

Q. I went out the other day with an ex, and things got “interesting” and then he refused to wear a condom saying he is allergic to the latex now! I mean, we’ve been together a few years before and he didn’t have any problem then. So how can he be allergic to latex all of a sudden? (we didn’t have unprotected sex if any of you wondered)

A. I doubt an allergy to latex developes over the years out of the blue, but it is not impossible that someone suffers from somewhat an allergy at a lesser extent that does not bother him and then later developes a stronger reaction to the substance.