Therapy
Since the symptoms of wheat allergy are caused by the consumption of products containing wheat, the therapy consists in abstaining from all foods containing wheat. There are no tablets that can be taken in addition to eating foods containing wheat. Therefore it is important to follow a wheat-free diet.
It should be noted that gluten-free foods may also contain wheat proteins. The best thing to do is to make a list of grains that contain wheat protein and then to pay attention to this in your diet, especially when eating out.Wheat-containing grains include wheat germ, wheat germ oil, wheat flour and wheat flakes, as well as couscous, starch, malt, bulgur and wholemeal bran. Instead, barley, oats, millet, quinoa, potato flour and rice flour are permitted. In rare cases, an anaphylactic shock may also occur. In such a case, those affected should always be equipped with a few emergency medications, such as cortisone.
Causes
The exact causes of the development of wheat allergy are not yet ultimately understood. In many studies genetic components have already been proven. This means that this form of allergy can, but does not have to be inheritable.
In addition this allergy form occurs likewise more frequently with children, whose parents under another or several allergy forms suffer. The components to which the body reacts in wheat products are mainly proteins. These include wheat albumin, gluten and globulin.
This causes the body to react immunologically, which results in increased production of antibodies. These antibodies attack the aforementioned components when they are absorbed into the circulation via the intestinal cells and thus lead to various symptoms. These include rashes on the skin, often associated with itching and swelling.
In the intestine itself, flatulence occurs, nausea and vomiting can also occur. Constipation and diarrhoea are also common. This topic might also be of interest to you: Gluten allergy
Diagnosis
In order to ensure the diagnosis of a wheat allergy, the anamnesis, i.e. the doctor-patient conversation, is the main focus. With the help of a dietary diary, a connection between certain foods and the symptoms that occur can be identified if the patient is well managed. Furthermore, if an allergy is suspected but the allergen, i.e. the allergy-causing substance, is unclear, a skin test can be performed.
To ensure a specific suspicion, however, blood tests and provocation tests, in which the allergen is given after an allergen-free phase, are in the foreground. To diagnose an allergy to wheat, various tests are possible. If there is only a suspicion of an allergy without knowing the exact allergen, a skin test is performed.
This tests the body’s readiness to react to different substances. If the suspicion is directed to a specific allergen, a provocation test can be carried out after a certain allergen-free time and the reaction of the body can be measured. Furthermore, antibodies against the allergen can be measured in a blood test.