Wheat Allergy

Overview

Wheat allergy is an allergic reaction to wheat products. Eating wheat can trigger allergic reactions, as can breathing wheat flour in some situations.

The primary treatment for wheat allergy is to avoid wheat. However, this is more complex than it sounds. Wheat can be found in various dishes, including soy sauce, ice cream, and hot dogs. You may require medication to treat allergic reactions if you mistakenly consume wheat.

Wheat allergy is commonly confused with celiac disease, although the two disorders differ. Wheat allergy develops when your body creates antibodies to wheat proteins. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, makes another type of aberrant immune system reaction in celiac disease.

Causes

Wheat allergies are an immune system reaction. When the immune system misidentifies a neutral or beneficial chemical as a disease, it assaults it.

Allergens are harmless compounds to most individuals unless they are allergic to them.

Wheat allergies are caused by IgG antibodies reacting to at least one of the following wheat proteins:

• Albumin
• Globulin
• Gliadin
• Glutamine (or gluten)

Some people are allergic to just one of the wheat proteins, whereas others may be allergic to two or more.

Symptoms

If you have a wheat allergy, you will most likely experience symptoms within minutes to hours of eating something containing wheat. Among your wheat allergy symptoms may be:

• Swelling, itching, or irritation in the mouth and throat
• Swelling, itching, hives, or rash on the skin
• Congested nose
• Headache
• Breathing problems
• Cramps, nausea, or vomiting
• Diarrhea

In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, wheat allergy can induce a potentially fatal reaction called anaphylaxis in some people. If you see any of the following symptoms, contact your local emergency number:

• Tightness in the neck
• Tightness or pain in the chest
• Severe breathing difficulties
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pale, bluish skin color
• Dizziness or fainting

Diagnosis

If you suspect you or a family member has a wheat allergy, seek a complete wheat allergy diagnosis from an allergy specialist. An allergy specialist will discuss your symptoms and family history to discover if allergies run in your family.

Your allergist will do diagnostic testing to distinguish between an acute wheat allergy and celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This could be a skin prick test, a blood test, or both.

Treatment

Common allergy drugs such as antihistamines and corticosteroids can treat wheat allergy symptoms. Anaphylaxis is a dangerous symptom that can be fatal if not treated immediately. This can happen within seconds or minutes of eating wheat. Injectable epinephrine should always be used to treat anaphylaxis.

When a person is diagnosed with a wheat allergy, their doctor may prescribe epinephrine. If you inadvertently swallow wheat and develop anaphylactic symptoms, you or someone nearby should provide epinephrine. Call your local emergency number immediately after administering epinephrine.

Don’t put off diagnosing yourself or a family member with a wheat allergy. Speak with an allergy specialist and schedule a test to determine whether you have a wheat allergy or another food allergy and seek wheat allergy treatment as soon as possible..

When To See A Doctor

Consult your doctor if you have wheat allergy symptoms regularly or if your symptoms worsen after consuming wheat.

Disclaimer

This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have concerns about foot pain or any other medical condition, please see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment suggestions.