Wheat allergy, a condition that affects millions of people

Wheat allergy, a condition that affects millions of people

occurs when the immune system becomes sensitized to wheat and then overreacts. When foods such as cereal, bread, pasta or pizza are eaten. Wheat is also found in drinks such as beer. Which can also trigger an allergic reaction.

This type of allergy usually affects younger children, with around 65% growing out of it by the age of 12. Generally, people are at a greater risk of developing a wheat allergy if they have a family history of allergies such as asthma or eczema.

Wheat allergy is characterized by the activation of T helper type 2 (Th2) cells which are necessary for humoral immunity and play a pivotal role in ทางเข้า ufabet coordinating the immune response. Such activation results in immunoglobulin E and non-immunoglobulin E mediated reactions (the latter representing much less understood pathophysiological mechanism).

Symptoms

A person with a wheat allergy is likely to experience symptoms of allergic reaction within minutes to hours after exposure to wheat. The symptoms that arise are usually mild, but people can also develop a severe and life threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Accurate diagnosis and correct management of wheat allergy is therefore essential.

As is the case with other food allergies, the symptoms that may arise with a wheat allergy include the following:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea and indigestion
  • Asthma
  • Runny or congested nose
  • Sneezing
  • Headache
  • Anaphylaxis

If a person develops any of these symptoms after exposure to wheat. They should consult an allergist or an immunologist.

Diagnosis

If a doctor suspects a person has a wheat allergy, they will ask about the person’s medical history and any family history of allergies. A skin-prick test and/or blood test arrang. For the skin-prick test, a small amount of wheat protein is place on the skin of the back or arm. Which is then pricked with a small probe to let the protein underneath the skin. If a small bump or hive then develops at this site, the person may have an allergy.