Symptoms
Wheat allergies in children manifest in several ways. Within a few hours of eating wheat or food that contains wheat, the child may exhibit a rash, experience swelling around the lips or in the throat, or feel nauseous. The child may also have the skin condition eczema, which is associated with allergic reactions.
In severe cases, the child may go into anaphylactic shock. The child will feel dizzy, his tongue and bronchial tubes will swell, causing labored breathing, and his skin may take on a bluish tint. Anaphylactic shock comes on quickly and must be treated immediately, usually with epinephrine.
Causes
An allergic reaction happens because the body mistakes a usually harmless substance, such as wheat or pollen, as a threat. The body sends out antibodies that in turn activate histamines. The release of histamines results in allergic reactions such as rash and nausea.
In wheat allergies, the substance that triggers the antibodies is gluten, a protein found in wheat.
Why a child may have an allergy to wheat is unknown. An allergy to wheat, as with other food allergies, is thought to be genetic, as it tends to run in families.
Treatment
The only treatment for wheat allergy is to avoid wheat. Unlike other allergies to substances such as pollen or dust mites, the symptoms cannot be controlled through medication. A child who is allergic to wheat cannot eat wheat breads, goods baked with wheat or any packaged product containing wheat.
Other flours, such as oat, barley or corn, can be consumed without experiencing allergic reactions.
Wheat Allergy and Celiac Disease
A wheat allergy is similar to gluten intolerance, otherwise known as celiac disease. In celiac disease, the presence of gluten, the protein found in wheat that triggers allergic symptoms, causes the villi in the small intestine to flatten against the walls of the intestines. The result is the body is unable to obtain and absorb nutrients from food.
Children with celiac disease may show the same symptoms as those seen in wheat allergies. They may also be lethargic and have learning difficulties in school. They may also be short in stature and underweight with distended bellies.
Children with wheat allergies tend to outgrow them; those with celiac disease do not--celiac disease is a lifelong condition. Medical tests are necessary to determine whether a child has wheat allergies or celiac disease.
Tags: allergic reactions, celiac disease, allergy wheat, celiac disease, Children with, found wheat