Flour allergy

An allergy to flour occurs as an acute response of the immune system to its components. When an allergic reaction to wheat or rye flour develops, not only flour dishes are excluded from the allergy sufferer's diet, but also products containing wheat or rye protein. According to statistics, an allergy to rye flour is much less common than to wheat flour. Signs of an allergic reaction may include disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, and skin. To differentiate types of allergies and accurately determine the irritant, special allergy tests are carried out, after which a special dietary menu is drawn up for the allergy sufferer that does not contain components of such cereals as wheat or rye.

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Symptoms of Flour Allergy

Symptoms of flour allergy may manifest as dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory organs (asthma, allergic rhinitis), skin rashes, eczema, and in some cases an anaphylactic reaction may occur.

Increased sensitivity to gluten, which is part of flour, can cause diarrhea, bloating, and a feeling of weakness. In children, symptoms of flour allergy may also include delayed physical development.

Allergy to wheat flour

An allergy to wheat flour occurs as a result of the body's acute reaction to the gluten contained in it. A true allergy should be distinguished from gluten intolerance, which occurs as a result of irritation of the villi of the small intestine when it is ingested. An allergy to wheat flour can be diagnosed by contacting an allergist. After conducting the necessary tests, it is possible to accurately determine the presence of an allergic reaction and the degree of its severity. In case of hypersensitivity to wheat flour, all products containing wheat derivatives are excluded from the diet. When making dough products, potato or corn starch or flour, as well as rice or oat flour, can be used as an analogue of wheat flour. 1 cup of wheat flour is approximately equal to half a cup of potato flour, 0.9 cups of rice flour, 1.25 cups of rye flour, a cup of corn flour and half a cup of barley flour.

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Allergy to rye flour

Allergy to rye flour is much less common than to wheat, as rye is considered one of the least allergenic cereals. To accurately determine which cereal is allergic, it is necessary to conduct special allergy tests by consulting an allergist. Symptoms of an allergy to rye flour can include headaches, suffocation, skin rashes, itching, etc. If an allergy to rye flour is detected, the patient is prescribed a special diet menu that does not contain rye or rye flour.

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Diagnosis of flour allergy

Flour allergy is diagnosed using enzyme immunoassay, which can also determine the severity of the allergic reaction. In true allergies, an acute reaction occurs when even an insignificant amount of an irritant enters the body, while in pseudo-allergic reactions, the occurrence of hypersensitivity depends on the amount of allergen introduced into the body. Elimination tests can be used to diagnose flour allergies. They consist of the following: products containing flour, as well as any wheat derivatives, are excluded from the diet for a while. Then, after reintroducing this product into the diet, all reactions that arise are assessed, on the basis of which a diagnosis is made.

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Treatment of flour allergy

Treatment of flour allergy consists primarily of completely eliminating products containing wheat or any of its derivatives from the diet. You should also limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages, as some of them may contain wheat components. Products containing genetically modified substances should also be excluded. If an allergic reaction to flour occurs, you should take an antihistamine, then consult an allergist for diagnosis and prescription of medications and an anti-allergy diet. If an allergy to flour develops, your diet may include dishes made from potatoes, meat, liver, you can eat fish and eggs, drink juice and tea. To prepare flour products, you should use flour from corn, potatoes, oats, rice or rye.

Prevention of flour allergy

Prevention of allergy to flour in case of hypersensitivity to any of its components consists of strict adherence to a dietary diet, excluding the use of flour products, as well as products containing wheat protein. It should be taken into account that wheat starch can be part of medical ointments, as well as cosmetic skin care products. As an analogue of wheat flour, you can use einkorn, which, according to experts, does not cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to wheat flour. Also, to replace wheat flour, you can use flour from corn, barley, oats or rice.