2023-08-09 19:19:57
Wheat Allergy: Common in Children, but Often Outgrown
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Wheat is known to be one of the most common food allergens in children, and according to the National Library of Medicine in America, it can also be a cause of other diseases such as exercise intolerance, occupational asthma, rhinitis, or contact urticaria.
The European Center for Allergy Research has stated that allergic reactions to wheat often occur within minutes to a few hours after a child consumes a wheat-containing food for the first time. Some individuals may experience late symptoms, such as a worsening of eczema, a day or two after consuming wheatgrass.
While the symptoms of wheat allergy are typically mild, they can sometimes be severe or even fatal, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. However, the good news is that wheat allergy is usually outgrown in adulthood. Approximately two-thirds of children with wheat allergy outgrow it at a relatively early age, with about 65 percent of them overcoming the allergy by the time they reach 12 years old, as stated by the college. Furthermore, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reports that about 80% of people with wheat allergy usually outgrow it by the age of 16.
The American College of Asthma and Allergy has identified a variety of symptoms associated with wheat allergy in children, including rash, nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, vomiting or diarrhea, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, headache, asthma, and anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life-threatening reaction that can obstruct breathing and shock the body.
To diagnose wheat allergy in children, doctors affiliated with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia often inquire about the child’s medical history and possible previous food reactions. This information helps ensure an accurate diagnosis and the development of an appropriate treatment plan. Some tests commonly used to diagnose wheat allergy in children include skin tests, blood tests, and food challenge tests.
During a skin test, a small amount of wheat or allergen is pricked into the skin, and the test site is observed for any reaction for about 10-15 minutes. Blood tests involve checking for antibodies in a child’s blood that may have been produced in response to exposure to the allergen. Food challenge tests, on the other hand, require giving the child a small amount of a potentially allergenic food in a clinical setting to monitor for any reactions.
For individuals with wheat allergies, it is important to avoid wheat and its derivatives to prevent symptoms. Those at risk of an allergic reaction should carry an emergency bag containing prescribed adrenaline injections, corticosteroids, and antihistamines, as recommended by a doctor.]
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