Wheat Allergy - Signs, Symptoms and Causes

Wheat Allergy

Wheat is one of the eight most common allergy-causing foods. While wheat allergy most often affects children, it can also occur in adults. Allergic reactions usually occur in susceptible individuals a few minutes to a few hours after they've consumed wheat.

Certain factors may put you at greater risk of developing a wheat allergy:

• Family history. You're at increased risk of allergy to wheat or other foods if allergies, such as hay fever, asthma, hives or eczema, are common in your family.
• Age. Wheat allergy is most common in children. As you grow older, your digestive system matures and your body is less likely to absorb food or food components that trigger allergies.

Signs and symptoms of wheat allergy range from mild to severe and can include skin reactions, congestion and digestive issues. Rarely, wheat allergy can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction.

Not all reactions to wheat are caused by wheat allergy. Some people have a digestive reaction to a sticky protein called gluten that's found in wheat and other grains. This reaction to gluten differs from a wheat allergy. It can be caused by an inability to digest gluten (gluten intolerance) or by an allergic reaction to gluten known as celiac disease or gluten sensitive enteropathy.

Signs and symptoms of wheat allergy can include:

• Swelling, itching or irritation of the mouth or throat
• Hives or skin irritation
• Nasal congestion
• Airway inflammation
• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as cramps, nausea and vomiting

Allergy symptoms differ from person to person and generally occur a few minutes to a few hours after wheat's been ingested. In some people, allergic reactions occur:

• When exercising after eating wheat
• From inhaled flour in the workplace (sometimes called bakers' asthma)

Anaphylaxis
Some people have a severe reaction to wheat called anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency and requires treatment with an epinephrine (adrenaline) shot and a trip to the emergency room. Signs and symptoms start within seconds to two hours after eating wheat and can include:

• Constriction of airways, including a swollen throat or a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe
• Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
• Rapid pulse
• Dizziness, light-headedness or loss of consciousness

What are some of the Causes?

All food allergies are caused by an immune system malfunction. Your immune system identifies certain wheat proteins as harmful, triggering the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to neutralize the protein (allergen). The next time you come in contact with these proteins, these IgE antibodies recognize them and signal your immune system to release histamine and other chemicals.

Histamine and other body chemicals cause a range of allergy signs and symptoms. Histamine is partly responsible for most allergic responses, including runny nose, itchy eyes, dry throat, rashes, hives, nausea, diarrhea, labored breathing and anaphylactic shock.

There are four different proteins in wheat that can cause allergies: albumin, globulin, gliadin and gluten. If you have a reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat and other grains such as oats, barley and rye, you may have gluten intolerance or celiac disease rather than a wheat allergy.

See a doctor or allergist if you experience food allergy symptoms shortly after eating. If possible, see your doctor when the allergic reaction is occurring. This will aid in making a diagnosis.

Seek emergency treatment if you develop any signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as:

• Constriction of airways that makes it difficult to breathe
• Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
• Rapid pulse
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Excerpt from MayoClinic.com Allergy Articles

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