All About Wheat Allergy In Babies

Wheat has four types of proteins. These are albumin, gluten, globulin, and gliadin. A wheat allergy occurs when your baby’s immune system considers these proteins as dangerous intruders.

The immune system responds by trying to fight off these invaders by developing antibodies against them. As a result, chemicals like histamine are released into the body causing an allergic reaction. Of the four proteins, Gluten is more often the culprit.

Also read: The 3-day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids.

What Is The Difference Between Allergy And Intolerance?

Is Wheat Allergy And Celiac Disease Same?

Even though the symptoms are similar, wheat allergy and celiac disease are not the same.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is food intolerance and also an autoimmune disorder that causes discomforts in the small intestine when gluten is consumed. When babies with celiac disease consume gluten, (which is found in wheat, rye, malt, barley, and some oat products) the immune system starts to attack the small intestine.

This damages and diminishes the number of villi. Villi are the little threadlike structure that line and protect the small intestine and stimulate proper absorption of nutrients. Therefore, the reduction in the number of villi can lead to malnutrition, osteoporosis, etc. Celiac disease is common among adults too.

Wheat Allergy

Wheat allergy, on the other hand, is the response of the immune system to one of the proteins found in wheat. This allergy is more common in children than adults. Unlike celiac disease, wheat allergy can potentially bring about reactions that can be life-threatening.

What Are The Symptoms Of Wheat Allergy In Babies?

The symptoms of wheat allergy can differ. The same person can have different symptoms at different points in time. Sometimes reactions can be exceptionally mild and affect only one system of the body, like hives on the skin. Other times, reactions can be more severe and involve more than one system of the body like the digestive system and respiratory system together.

Some of the common symptoms of wheat allergy include:

• Hay fever is characterized by a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and sneezing.
• Wheat allergy could cause or worsen existing eczema in your baby.
• The baby may begin to develop itchy reddish and raised spots on various parts of his body, such as hands, face, arms, chest, and stomach that would subside in a couple of hours. It is called hives.
• Hives appear soon after your baby consumes wheat. Depending on the intensity of the allergy in your baby towards the wheat, hives are also found to develop spontaneously.
• Wheezing
• Swelling and itching on the lips.
• Difficulty in breathing due to inflamed throat, lungs, and nose.
• Difficulty in swallowing caused due to tightening of the throat.
• Asthmatic signs like chest tightness, cough, shortness of breath, etc.
• Stomachache, vomiting and diarrhea can occur due to wheat allergy.
• Even though very rare, Anaphylactic reaction, a potentially life-threatening reaction can impair breathing and send your baby’s body into shock.

If you notice one or more of these allergic reactions in your baby, it is important that you discuss it with your doctor immediately.

Breastfeeding And Wheat Allergy

If your baby is suspected to have a wheat allergy then breastfeeding is necessary. Breastfeeding helps to boost the immune system of your baby. By breastfeeding your baby as long as you can, you are increasing his chances of having an allergy-free life.

If your baby is prone to allergies, continuing breastfeeding will ensure that he comes in contact with a potential allergen much later in his life. By this time, the immune system would have matured in your baby and the chances of it reacting normally are high.

Foods To Avoid If Your Baby Has Wheat Allergy

If it is confirmed that your baby has a wheat allergy, you need to try and eliminate all the food products containing wheat from his diet. For this, you need to read labels carefully the next time you go grocery shopping. Keep away from common sources of wheat like bread, pasta, cereals, bulgur wheat, gravies, sauces, wheat bran, durum wheat, semolina, rusk, and biscuits

There are many alternatives to wheat substitutes such as potato flour, rice flour, and soy flour. Also, tapioca, arrowroot, barley, oat and buckwheat flour, and corn and sago starch can be used for cooking your baby’s food.

Dealing With Wheat Allergy In Babies

If your baby develops an allergic reaction within 2 to 3 hours of consuming wheat, you need to speak to your doctor immediately.

• If your baby develops a severe allergic reaction, then your doctor would recommend that you take a skin prick test or certain blood tests for your baby.
• Keep a watch as to how many days it takes for the symptoms of wheat allergy to subside in your baby.
• It is advisable to maintain a food journal to know which food items are responsible for an allergy in your baby.
• Try eliminating all the food items containing wheat from your baby’s diet for 2-3 weeks. When the symptoms go away, try reintroducing them to your child to see if there is any allergic reaction. If your child continues to show symptoms of wheat allergy, eliminate wheat-containing food items from his diet.
• Check with your doctor as to what can be safely given to your baby. The good news is that some babies outgrow food allergies when they reach the age of 3. Periodically keep taking advice from an allergist to know if wheat can be reintroduced into your baby’s diet.

Did your baby have a wheat allergy? What were its symptoms and how did you deal with it? Do share in it the comments section below.