Wheat allergy

According to statistics, an allergy to cereals of varying degrees is present in about one person out of two hundred. Allergy to wheat occurs as a result of increased sensitivity of the organism to wheat protein, quite often can be caused by the inhalation of its pollen. With hypersensitivity to wheat, the organism also reacts sharply to products containing its derivatives.

Patients who are allergic to wheat should not eat wheat flour - bread, pasta, semolina, ice cream, beer and other products containing wheat in one form or another. To determine the diagnosis for suspected allergic reaction to wheat, special allergic tests are performed, a blood test is taken, after which a special diet and antiallergic drugs are prescribed to confirm the diagnosis to the patient. Most children who are allergic to wheat, she passes by herself at about the age of five. When choosing foods in the store, you should carefully study the labels describing the composition of the product. In case of an allergic reaction to wheat, you should not eat foods containing such substances:

• Gluten (gluten);
• Gelatinized starch;
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein;
• Wheat bran;
• Sprouted wheat;
• Vegetable gluten;
• Vegetable starch.

Causes of wheat allergy

The causes of wheat allergy are acute reaction of the body to the constituent substances, which can manifest as skin rashes, respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal tract, etc. To distinguish from true allergy to wheat, there is a disease such as glutenenteropathy, in which processes digestion due to damage to villi small intestine gluten-containing substances that are part of wheat and other cereal crops.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Symptoms of wheat allergy

Symptoms of wheat allergy may manifest in the form of itching, neurodermatitis, rashes on the face, arms, neck and other parts of the body. Allergic manifestations of the respiratory system include the development of spastic bronchitis, endogenous bronchial asthma. Symptoms of wheat allergy may include impaired bowel function, heartbeat, body temperature reaction, hay fever, eczema, gastrointestinal tract disorder.

Allergy to wheat and milk

Allergy to wheat and milk is the result of increased sensitivity of the body to the protein contained in these products. Manifestations of an allergic reaction in both cases can include skin rashes and itching, disturbances from the respiratory system, the organs of the digestive tract. In such situations, to correct the patient's condition, it is necessary to observe a special therapeutic diet that excludes products containing derivatives of milk and wheat. In young children, a negative reaction to wheat or dairy products often goes by themselves to five to six years. However, it should be remembered that every case is individual and for all manifestations of an allergic reaction it is necessary to consult an allergist to accurately establish the allergen and take the necessary measures.

[5], [6]

Wheat allergy to a child

Allergy to wheat in a child can be triggered by too early introduction of complementary foods with wheat in the diet of the baby, for example, semolina, which, as is known, contains wheat in its composition. Since the enzyme system of babies at the earliest age is not yet fully formed, the body's response to gluten can manifest itself in the form of an allergy - due to the ingress of large fragments of protein molecules into the body, the immune system produces a "protective" reaction that can manifest as a rash and redness on skin, itching, burning and other allergy symptoms.

As a rule, for the first time the allergic reaction to wheat manifests itself in infancy and can pass at the age of three to five years. It should be remembered that with an allergy to wheat protein, a similar reaction can manifest itself in rice, oats or barley. If a child has an allergy to wheat, then all foods that contain it should be excluded from the baby's diet. Before visiting an allergist, it will be useful to start a notebook in which you need to describe the diet and diet of the baby and mom (if the baby is breastfed). In such a notebook, daily notes should be made about the daily menu of the baby, any reactions that occur after taking a particular food (with a clear indication of the date and time), and also indicate what medicines the child took and what cosmetic skin care products were used.

Diagnosis of wheat allergy

Diagnosis of wheat allergy is carried out with the help of enzyme immunoassay. Thanks to this method, you can not only determine the presence of an allergic reaction, but also determine the degree of its severity. In the course of the analysis, the concentration of immunoglobulin E, as well as the immunoglobulin G antibodies, is determined. This method does not require special preparation, it can continue to receive antiallergic drugs. Depending on the results obtained, the allergist is given the necessary treatment. With a true allergy, the hypersensitivity reaction occurs when even an insignificant amount of an allergen is administered, while for pseudoallergies the manifestations of an allergic reaction depend on the amount of the allergen that has got into the body. To diagnose wheat allergy, an elimination test can be used. Its essence is to exclude a certain product from the diet for several weeks (in this case, wheat and its derivatives), after which the product is again introduced into the diet and watches the reactions taking place in the body, on the basis of which the corresponding conclusions are drawn.

[7], [8], [9], [10]

Treatment of allergies to wheat

Treatment of allergy to wheat is primarily in the exclusion from the diet of products that contain it. The patient should be assigned a diet menu that also limits the use of alcoholic beverages, since many of them may contain derivatives of wheat that cause an increased sensitivity of the body. From the use of genetically modified products should also be discarded. If there is an allergic reaction to wheat, the patient should take an antihistamine drug, then consult an allergist for diagnosis and selection of medications and a medical diet. Nutrition for allergies to wheat can include loose tea, juices, meat, rice, corn, potato, liver, fish, eggs, as well as bakery products made from corn, rice, rye, barley, oatmeal or potato flour.

Prevention of allergies to wheat

Prevention of allergies to wheat with hypersensitivity to any of its components is to exclude from the diet products containing wheat and its derivatives. Patients with a tendency to an allergic reaction to wheat should take into account that it is included in not only flour, bread and pasta, but also different cereals, for example, manki, and alcoholic beverages (wine, beer). In addition, wheat starch is found in various ointments of medical purpose, and in cosmetology wheat germ extract is used in the cream for skin rejuvenation. It can also be part of immunomodulating drugs. An alternative to cultivated wheat can be Aynkorn, or a single-grain plant, which, according to the current opinion, does not pose a threat to people who are allergic to wheat. Also, to replace wheat, you can use corn, potatoes, barley, oatmeal, rice flour or soy.