People with a wheat allergy have an irregular immune system response to at least one of the proteins in wheat. Some common wheat allergy symptoms include hives, asthma, and nasal congestion.

If someone with a wheat allergy has exposure to it, they may experience debilitating symptoms. In some cases, anaphylaxis can occur. This is a life threatening allergic response that requires immediate help.

Some people may experience an allergic reaction when they inhale wheat flour, while others experience symptoms after consuming it orally. An allergic reaction typically occurs within minutes or hoursTrusted Source of consuming or inhaling wheat.

People who suspect that they may have a wheat allergy should seek immediate medical attention to confirm the diagnosis.

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Wheat allergies may affect around 0.2% to 1%Trusted Source of people and are more common in children. Someone with a wheat allergy has a specific antibody to one or several wheat proteins.

Children may have a higher risk of a wheat allergy if a parent or caregiver introduces them to wheat after six months of age. However, most children eventually outgrow this allergy, with 65% resolving by the age of 12 years.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), people may also have a higher risk of developing a wheat allergy if a close relative has a wheat allergy, hay fever, or asthma.

Wheat allergy is not the same as celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that affectsTrusted Source a person’s digestive tract when they eat gluten.

Gluten can still trigger an irregular autoimmune response in someone with a wheat allergy, but the medical management tips and nutrition guidelines are different for people with celiac disease.

Also, although gluten is a protein in wheat, people with celiac disease will not experience anaphylaxis because celiac disease is not IgE-mediatedTrusted Source, meaning it does not cause an immediate response following ingestion or inhalation.

Wheat allergies tend toTrusted Source develop in infancy. Potential symptoms of a wheat allergy include:

Anaphylaxis may also occur, leading to:

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. People need to visit a medical professional for treatment.

How fast can wheat allergy symptoms appear?

People may have a reaction one to three hoursTrusted Source after exposure to wheat. Although, many allergic reactions happen within minutesTrusted Source of exposure to the allergen.

Anaphylaxis typically happens very quickly, and severe symptoms may begin within minutes of contact with the allergen.

A wheat allergy is an immune system response. An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to a neutral or beneficial substance for a pathogen and attacks it.

Allergens are substances that cause no harm to most people unless they have an allergy.

An allergic reaction to wheat involves immunoglobulin antibodies reacting to at least one of the proteins in wheat. Some people may be allergic to only one of the proteins, while others may be allergic to two or more.

Below are some potential triggers of a reaction to wheat:

  • Wheat and exercise: Some people may have severe symptoms during exercise within four hoursTrusted Source of eating wheat, also known as wheat dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.
  • Baker’s asthma: People who work in bakeries or places with uncooked wheat flour may develop baker’s asthma. The allergy occurs due to wheat flour inhalation, not ingestion.
  • Celiac disease: Celiac is an autoimmune food sensitivity in which the immune system reacts to gluten, causing inflammation and damage in the small intestine. Some people have celiac disease and a wheat allergy.

The following strategies and tests may help a doctor identify a wheat allergy:

  • Keeping a food diary: To identify the cause of the allergy, a health professional may ask a person to keep a food diary. This will include the types of food in the diet, when the person eats them, and when symptoms occur.
  • Food challenge testing: This may occur in the hospital or at an allergy clinic for monitoring. A person will consume capsules that contain suspected allergens, starting with small doses and gradually increasing their intake over hours or days.
  • Skin prick testing: A healthcare professional will place drops of diluted food on the person’s arm or back, piercing the skin through the drop. Any symptoms may indicate a wheat allergy.
  • Blood testing: This can detect antibodies to specific foods. If immunoglobin E antibodies are present, the person may have a wheat allergy. Blood tests can also look for antibodies that indicate celiac disease.

A doctor may also suggest that the person eliminate all wheat products from their diet. After a few days, they can start reintroducing wheat at intervals.

Tracking symptoms in a food diary after reintroducing foods can help them identify whether or not wheat is responsible for their reaction. A qualified healthcare professional should oversee this process.

Treatment for a wheat allergy may include avoiding wheat proteins. However, this can be challenging, as so many foods contain wheat.

Healthcare professionals may also prescribe certain medications for someone with a wheat allergy.

Antihistamines can lower an individual’s immune activity, eliminating or reducing the symptoms of allergy. People should take these after exposure to wheat. Also, people should only use antihistamines under the guidance of a physician.

Healthcare professionals may also recommend corticosteroids to reduce a person’s symptoms.

Prescribing an epinephrine injection

Epinephrine, or adrenaline, is an emergency treatment that a doctor may prescribe for someone with a risk of anaphylaxis.

People with a high risk of anaphylaxis should carryTrusted Source injectable doses of epinephrine. Adrenaline opens the airways, helping an individual breathe more easily. It also helps restore severely low blood pressure.

A person can administer the medication through an auto-injector pen straight into the skin. One pen contains a single dose of adrenaline, which a person can inject using a concealed, spring-loaded needle. Examples include the EpiPen and the Anapen.

People should always go to the emergency room after using epinephrine for further evaluation.

CommonTrusted Source side effects of epinephrine include:

However, if someone is experiencing anaphylaxis, epinephrine can be a lifesaving treatment.

Before consuming wheat, it is good practice to check the nutrition label of each food to see if it contains wheat or any other grains with wheat proteins. The manufacturer may have processed certain foods in a facility that also processes wheat.

This can include non-food products. For example, certain cosmetics may also contain wheat proteins that can trigger a reaction.

People can keep track of their symptoms and habits to help them identify and avoid triggers.

Diet

People with a wheat allergy should avoid food that contains wheat, which may include:

  • most baked products
  • breakfast cereals
  • beer, ale, and root beer
  • coffee substitutes, malted milk, and instant chocolate drink mixes
  • certain sauces and condiments
  • wheat- or semolina-based couscous, pasta, and noodles
  • ice cream and ice cream cones
  • dumplings
  • gelatinized starch and modified food starch
  • hydrolyzed vegetable protein
  • processed meats, such as hotdogs
  • meat, crab, and shrimp substitutes
  • monosodium glutamate
  • natural flavorings
  • vegetable gum

Barley, oats, and rye also contain some wheat proteins. A person with a wheat allergy may be allergic not just to wheat but also to rye, oats, and barley.

People should contact a doctor if they think they or their child have a wheat allergy. Wheat allergies resolve for manyTrusted Source children but can also increase in severity as someone ages. Wheat allergies that cause anaphylaxis can be fatal.

It can be helpful for a diagnosis to track symptoms and triggers to bring to a doctor’s appointment. People may wish to ask the following questions at their appointment:

  • What ingredients should I avoid if I have a wheat allergy?
  • Are there any non-food items that could trigger a reaction?
  • Do I need to carry an EpiPen?

What is the difference between wheat allergy and gluten allergy?

Wheat allergy involves a specific immune system reaction to wheat proteins, which can include gluten.

According to the ACAAI, there is no such thing as a gluten allergy, but some people may have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease, which can cause gastrointestinal inflammation and discomfort.

Can someone suddenly become allergic to wheat?

Children are more likelyTrusted Source to develop a wheat allergy, but it can happen at any age. Allergies can also become more severe throughout life, so people may only notice them as they age.

Can someone get rid of a wheat allergy?

There is no immediate cure for a wheat allergy. However, treatment may involveTrusted Source avoiding wheat allergens or options such as immunotherapy, which may help to desensitize a person to the allergen.

Can an allergic reaction to gluten kill someone?

Someone with a wheat allergy can develop an anaphylactic reaction to gluten, which can be life threatening without immediate treatment. People who have symptoms of anaphylaxis should administer epinephrine and seek emergency help.

A wheat allergy occurs when certain antibodies cause a reaction to the proteins in wheat. Symptoms may include hives, nasal congestion, watery eyes, and gastrointestinal issues.

Treatment for a wheat allergy typically involves lifestyle changes or medications. Children may grow out of a wheat allergy, but some people may need to avoid triggers throughout life.

People should contact a doctor if they have signs of a wheat allergy. A doctor may prescribe medications such as antihistamines or corticosteroids to relieve symptoms or epinephrine in case of anaphylaxis, which is life threatening without urgent treatment.