What is Wheat Allergy

Wheat allergy is a condition where the body is allergic to proteins found in wheat and is often confused with celiac disease but is very different. In celiac disease, the body is allergic to a specific wheat protein called gluten whereas wheat allergy creates an allergic antibody to wheat proteins.

Symptoms:

A person allergic to wheat develops symptoms anytime between the first few minutes to a couple of hours after consuming wheat or sometimes even if they inhale wheat flour. Common symptoms include:

• Swelling or itching in the mouth and throat

• Irritation and rashes on skin

• Headache

• Diarrhoea

• Nausea and vomiting

• Cramping

• Difficulty breathing

• Anaphylaxis: It is a life threatening reaction caused by wheat allergy which causes tightening of throat and chest. Fastened heartbeat, chest pain and difficulty breathing. It also makes the skin pale blue, creates difficulty in swallowing and the person becomes dizzy and prone to fainting.

Causes: 

Any product that contains wheat is an obvious threat. This includes bread, pasta, cereals, cakes, cookies, beer, etc. Certain wheat proteins are found in products like cosmetics, bath products and many prepared foods.

Wheat dependent, exercise induced anaphylaxis is a condition that develops when a person who exercises within a few hours after consuming wheat develops symptoms.

Alternative sources:

If you suffer from wheat allergy, there are various alternatives to wheat which you can try: 

• Eating other grains like rice, barley, oats, corn etc. instead of wheat. 

• Gluten-free breads containing nutritious sources like buckwheat, potato, millet, rice etc. 

• Oats is another healthy option for people suffering from wheat allergies. 

• There are also a large number of wheat free pastas, pizzas, and other such food items available in the market which you can easily consume. 

Diagnosis and treatment:

The diagnosis for this condition is quite simple as the symptoms appear soon after wheat consumption. Additionally, the doctor might perform certain skin or blood tests to diagnose the condition. The treatment is pretty simple- avoid wheat based products and sometimes, certain drugs are administered to reduces the symptoms. If someone develops symptoms of anaphylaxis, it is important to take them to emergency care as soon as possible because it is highly risky.