Which finding during latex allergy screening would raise concern for latex allergy?

• A. Lips swelling when inflating balloons
• B. Sneezing after pollen exposure
• C. Hives after sun exposure
• D. Nausea after dairy products

Answer: (A)

An immediate reaction to latex exposure is the strongest sign of latex allergy. Lip swelling when inflating balloons points directly to contact with latex on the lips, reflecting an immediate hypersensitivity reaction. Balloons are commonly made of latex, so this scenario shows a real danger signal—latex proteins triggering swelling right at the mucosal surface, which can precede more widespread or severe reactions if exposure continues.

The other scenarios don’t involve latex exposure: sneezing after pollen points to seasonal allergic rhinitis to pollen; hives after sun exposure suggests a photosensitive reaction; nausea after dairy points to lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy. While these are allergic processes, they don’t implicate latex specifically, so they’re not as concerning for latex allergy risk as lip swelling from latex exposure.