Celiac Disease

Wheat Allergy

Listed among the top eight food allergens (others being soy, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, egg, fish and shellfish), reactions to wheat, apart from celiac disease, can be in the form of an allergy.

Most common symptoms for allergies could be respiratory, asthma, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, anaphylaxis and colic If a person with wheat allergy gets an exposure to wheat it may lead to debilitating symptoms. In some cases, anaphylaxis can occur. This is a life threatening allergic response.

People who suspect that they may have a wheat allergy should seek immediate medical attention to confirm the diagnosis. Some people experience an allergic reaction when they inhale wheat flour. Others experience symptoms after consuming it orally. An allergic reaction may occur within minutes or hours of either consuming or inhaling wheat.

A wheat allergy is one of the most common childhood food allergies. However, it can also occur in adults. A person with a wheat allergy has developed a specific antibody to one or several wheat proteins.

Wheat allergies tend to develop in infancy, often alongside other food allergies. It will usually resolve by the time a person is 12 years of age.

Wheat allergy is not the same as celiac disease.

Wheat allergy signs and symptoms include:

• Swelling, itching or irritation of the mouth or throat.
• Hives, itchy rash or swelling of the skin.
• Nasal congestion , allergic rhinitis
• Watery itc hy eyes
• Headache
• Difficulty breathing
• Cramps, nausea or vomiting
• Bloated stomach
• Diarrhea
• Asthma
• Eczema
• Anaphylaxis.

Symptoms of Anaphylaxis include

• swelling and tightness in the throat
• difficulty swallowing
• tightness and pain in the chest
• difficulty breathing
• pale or bluish skin
• a weak pulse
• a potentially life threatening drop in blood pressure