Gluten Allergies: What To Do In Case Of Gluten Exposure?
If you have hives, a rash, stomach pain, or your nose becomes blocked or runny after eating cereal, bread, or pasta, you may have a gluten intolerance, a common condition that affects many individuals.
If you suffer from celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, you have undoubtedly had at least one “glutening” incident in your life. Glutening is defined as accidentally consuming gluten and subsequently having gluten-related symptoms. These symptoms could appear suddenly (within minutes). In other circumstances, you may not notice symptoms of a reaction for several days after consuming gluten.
It doesn’t take much gluten to make this happen. A very small amount—possibly even smaller than the eye can see—could cause a variety of physiological effects.
In general, if you come from a family with allergies or allergic disorders such as asthma or eczema, you are more likely to acquire an allergy to any food, including wheat. You are more likely to acquire a food allergy if both of your parents have allergies than if only one parent has allergies.
What Triggers Gluten Allergy
- Bread, pasta, and other wheat-containing foods
- Nonfood products containing wheat-based components, such as Play-Doh, cosmetics, and bath products
Gluten Allergy Symptoms
- Hives or a rash on the skin
- Nausea, stomach pains, indigestion, vomiting, or diarrhea are all possible symptoms.
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Headaches
- Asthma
- Anaphylaxis (rare) is a potentially fatal reaction that can limit breathing and put the body into shock. This condition can be controlled through correct first aid
While the symptoms of a gluten allergy are usually moderate, in some cases, they can be severe and even fatal, demanding a diagnosis and adequate allergy first aid
Celiac Disease
Gluten intolerance is comparable in some aspects to celiac disease, a disorder in which consuming gluten produces symptoms. Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune illness (that runs in the family).
An autoimmune disorder is a condition in which the body’s immune system (infection-fighting system) attacks and kills its own tissue. Gluten induces a response in celiac disease that destroys the lining of the small intestine. This lowers the region available for absorbing nearly all nutrients.
How Is A Food Allergy Diagnosed
Some signs of wheat allergy – stomach cramps, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems — match with those of gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, so a correct diagnosis is critical. An allergist can identify whether or not an allergy exists.
Your allergist will begin by taking a medical history, specifically inquiring about other family members who have allergies or allergic disorders such as asthma or eczema. You are more likely to have food allergies if both of your parents have them.
A skin prick test or a blood test can be used to diagnose allergies.
A little amount of a wheat protein-containing liquid is applied to the back or forearm, which is then poked with a small, sterile probe to allow the liquid to seep into the skin. If a raised, reddish area appears within 15 to 20 minutes, this could be an indication of an allergy.
A blood sample is sent to a laboratory to be tested for the presence of immunoglobulin E antibodies to wheat protein in the blood test. The outcomes are reported numerically. To screen for celiac disease, a blood test that searches for specific antibodies can be utilized.
What If The Tests Do Not Give a Definitive Result
If these tests are inconclusive, your allergist may recommend an oral food challenge. You will eat modest amounts of wheat under a doctor’s supervision to see if a reaction develops. Because a serious reaction is possible, this test is performed at your allergist’s office or at a food challenge facility with emergency equipment and medication on hand.
What Is Gluten Sensitivity?
The term “gluten sensitivity” has been used to characterise people who consume gluten and experience symptoms resembling those of celiac disease but who lack the intestinal damage and antibodies associated with celiac disease.
Difference Between Gluten Sensitivity And Celiac Disease
Because patients with gluten sensitivity do not test positive for celiac disease based on the blood testing and do not exhibit the small intestinal damage seen in those with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity has been clinically acknowledged as being less severe than celiac disease.
Additionally, studies have demonstrated that gluten sensitivity does not cause heightened intestinal permeability, sometimes referred to as leaky gut, which is a defining feature of celiac disease. Leaky gut is a biological condition that may occur early in the course of various autoimmune disorders because it allows toxins, microbes, and undigested food proteins to pass through the GI barrier and into the bloodstream.
First Aid For Gluten Allergy
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that a gluten allergy can bring on. Some of the symptoms of anaphylaxis may initially resemble those of a less severe reaction, but they can quickly worsen. The individual may have difficulty breathing or may pass out. It’s possible that more than one body part is affected. Anaphylaxis can be fatal if it is not treated.
The best way to avoid mishaps is to be prepared by enrolling in a first aid course. Everybody should know the basic first aid techniques to save a person’s life.