What Does A Wheat Allergy Look Like

How Is Gluten Intolerance Treated

If a healthcare provider determines that you have gluten intolerance, avoidance of gluten is the best way to reduce and/or remove your symptoms. This can be tricky, since gluten is found in a very wide variety of foods and food products. Obvious offenders are things that contain wheat, barley, or rye, but what many people dont realize is how many other foods contain gluten.

See the table below for more examples of foods that contain gluten and ideas for appropriate substitutes.

Remember that just because something is labeled wheat-free does not automatically mean that it is gluten-free, since there are many other grains that contain gluten, as outlined in the table above. Look for the certified gluten-free label, which is regulated by the FDA and means that the food is either naturally gluten free or contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten.

What Does Celiac Disease Look Like

People with celiac disease may have symptoms for days after eating wheat. Many get really foul-smelling diarrhea, intense stomach pain, and experience weight loss because their small intestines are too inflamed to absorb nutrients. Other common symptoms are chronic eczema headaches, and learning disorders or delays.

Unfortunately, celiac disease is more common in people with family history, Type 1 diabetes, down syndrome, and juvenile arthritis. The only treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet.

How Common Is Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Dermatitis herpetiformis is most common in people of northern European heritage. One statistic states that up to 75 per 100,000 people in northern Europe have it. Dermatitis herpetiformis affects 10% to 25% of celiac disease patients. It is rare in children and in people of African American or Asian descent.

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How Do You Treat Gluten Rash

Some celiac patients who have dermatitis herpetiformis also have digestive symptoms. Though the existence of this rash is a strong indicator of celiac disease in patients without digestive symptoms, it can also be caused by other conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and hives. In fact, there are several skin conditions which are linked to celiac disease including eczema and psoriasis.

The only long-term treatment for gluten rash is strict adherence to a gluten free diet. Because celiac disease is currently an incurable condition, patients who experience gluten rash can hope to be free from their symptoms at some point, but any exposure to gluten has the potential to trigger a flare-up. In fact, skin-related symptoms of celiac disease are much easier to trigger than digestive issues. Even very small exposures to gluten can trigger a flare-up in celiac patients prone to gluten rash.

Tips For Managing Symptoms With A Gluten Free Diet

Because managing skin-related symptoms of celiac disease can be tougher than mitigating digestive symptoms, you need to be extra cautious with what you eat. When purchasing packaged gluten free foods, make sure they are produced in a dedicated gluten free facility to avoid cross-contamination. Brands like Schär offer a wide variety of options to help you easily manage your gluten free lifestyle.

Here are some other tips for managing gluten rash symptoms:

• Be as strict as you possibly can with the gluten free diet even a small exposure can trigger symptoms that may take days to subside.
• Avoid the temptation to cheat on your diet it can take years of strict gluten free eating for symptoms to completely disappear, though your reactions may lessen over time.
• Take every precaution you can against cross-contamination including keeping gluten free foods, utensils, and food prep equipment completely separate.
• Be particularly careful of naturally gluten free grains like rice and oats because they can still be processed on shared equipment with gluten-containing grains like wheat.
• Be careful when eating out. Always look ahead to see if the menu has gluten free options and, even if they do, there is a risk of cross-contamination. Dont be afraid to educate the restaurant staff about your specific dietary needs.

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Is A Wheat Allergy The Same As Celiac Disease

No. While the symptoms are similar, there are some key differences between the two. A wheat allergy is a temporary immune reaction to one or more wheat proteins, whereas celiac disease causes damage to the lining of the small intestines over time, resulting in diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, fatigue, and anemia. Untreated celiac disease can also prevent the small intestine from absorbing nutrients, which can interfere with growth and development in children and lead to other health challenges in adults. Many people overcome wheat allergies as they get older, while celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder.

Finding A Good Doctor For Gluten Issues

If you would like to find a good primary care doctor to consult with about gluten intolerance, then let BASS Medical Group help. Our goal is to ensure that your health is in the right hands and you are happy with your care. Give us a call today at 925-350-4044 so that we can point you to the nearest location or schedule an appointment online.

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Albumin And Globulin Allergy

At present many of the allergens of wheat have not been characterized however, the early studies found many to be in the albumin class. A recent study in Europe confirmed the increased presence of allergies to amylase/trypsin inhibitors and lipid transfer protein , but less reactivity to the globulin fraction. The allergies tend to differ between populations , indicating a potential genetic component to these reactivities.

Beware Of Hidden Gluten

A wide variety of foods contain gluten, including processed meat, potato chips, french fries, breaded foods, sauces, and soups. It may be in lipstick or in medicines. You may be able to eat oats if they are not contaminated with wheat, but talk to your health care provider first. Wine and distilled alcohol are generally safe, but most beers are not. Beer is made from grains and does not go through a distilling process.

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Testing Treating And The Gluten

When someone who has dermatitis herpetiformis consumes gluten, his or her immune system launches an attack by producing antibodies. In celiac disease, the immune system attack damages the absorbing lining of the small intestine. In DH, the attack primarily takes place in the skin as antibodies stimulated in the intestine circulate through the bloodstream.

Immunoglobulin A is deposited in the skin, triggering an immune reaction that results in the formation of the lesions.

Whats interesting in DH is that these immune cells, once armed, leave the battlefield and go to the skin.

Although the effect is seen on the skin, touching gluten-containing foods or lotions, creams and other body products has not been shown to trigger a DH rash.

Those who have DH dont always have classic intestinal damage, but the condition is still considered full-blown celiac disease, Fasano says, noting that in 25 percent of DH cases only the skin is affected. The remaining 75 percent have damage to the villi that line the intestine, but this is generally limited and patients may have no obvious gastrointestinal symptoms.

DH is diagnosed through the anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody blood test and a skin biopsy. When the biopsy is done, a sample is taken from the area next to a skin lesion to determine if IgA occurs in deposits that appear in a granular pattern. When DH is diagnosed this way, the intestinal biopsy used to diagnose celiac disease is not needed.

Warning Signs In Children

Celiac symptoms may start in childhood, even in infants when parents introduce foods that contain gluten. Symptoms can include vomiting, bloating, pain, diarrhea, and irritability. The disease can lead to slowed growth or even failure to thrive. Children with celiac may have teeth that are pitted, grooved, discolored, or poorly formed. Children with a parent or sibling with celiac disease should be screened.

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Information For Using Wheat Substitutes

One cup of wheat flour equals:

• 1 cup rye meal
• 1 to 1 1/4 cups rye flour
• 1 cup potato flour
• 1 1/3 cups rolled oats or oat flour
• 1/2 cup potato four plus 1/2 cup rye flour
• 5/8 cup potato starch

Some foods and products are not covered by the FALCPA. These include:

• Foods that are not regulated by the FDA
• Cosmetics and personal care items
• Prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements
• Toys, crafts , and pet foods

Whats The Difference Between Gluten Intolerance And Wheat Allergy

Because wheat is one of the major sources of gluten, it can be easy to confuse symptoms of gluten intolerance with those of a wheat allergy. However, there are very distinct differences.

All allergic reactions, including wheat, involve the immune system. It responds to what it thinks is a foreign substance that must be removed from the body. Your immune system releases antibodies known as immunoglobulin E , which trigger a variety of symptoms, including the possibility of a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis.

Having a gluten intolerance is less severe than a wheat allergy and does not involve the immune system. In addition, a trained allergist can diagnose a wheat allergy with a skin-prick or blood test, whereas a healthcare provider can only diagnose gluten intolerance based on your reported symptoms and ruling out other conditions.

However, because the two conditions can share many common symptoms, it is important to first rule out a wheat allergy before assuming gluten intolerance.

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My Wedding Band Contains Nickel And I Just Became Allergic

The Wall Street Journal articleâTill Dermatitis Do Us Partâ is the source of some of this information.

It is really bad to learn that you have a nickel allergy. The allergic reaction may be able to be remedied by your trusty jeweler! In order to avoid this allergic reaction it is possible to have the inside of your wedding band rhodium plated.

This creates a neutral metal barrier so you can keep wearing your lovely ring! It will have to be reapplied maybe once every few years.

Another remedy is to coat your jewelry with clear nail polish. This will form a temporary barrier. One home remedy suggest boiling the jewelry in vinegar and peroxide as this may remove nickel salts from the surface, but this fix will only last until contact with your skin causes a chemical stimulation for the nickel salts to form.

Symptoms Of Severe Allergic Reactions In Babies:

More severe reactions may include any of the following, either alone or in combination:

• Shortness of breath, wheezing, repetitive cough
• Pale or bluish skin
• Repetitive vomiting
• Sudden tiredness/lethargy/seeming limp

If your child is having any of the above symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately and request an ambulance with autoinjectable epinephrine. Do not wait.

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What You Should Know About Silver And Nickel Allergies

A silver allergy is a form of metal hypersensitivity, which is a disorder of the immune system. Its a condition that affects around 10 to 15% of the population, although it mostly affects women. A silver allergy can produce a reaction called contact dermatitis, which includes symptoms such as swelling, rashes, or pain.

Most of the time, these skin allergies are actually nickel allergies. Because pure silver is usually too soft to be made into jewelry, a small amount of nickel is mixed in to keep the silver firm and lustrous. When the nickel seeps out of the jewelry, it comes into contact with the skin and can cause an allergic reaction. By avoiding nickel substances and using alternative metals such as sterling silver, you should be able to wear silver jewelry with no skin problems.

What A Severe Allergic Reaction Looks Like

Again, one of the key features of a severe reaction versus a mild one is that it comes on soon after exposure.

Signs of anaphylaxis in babies tend to be milder than in older children and adults. The most reported symptoms of severe allergic reaction in babies are hives and vomiting.

In a 2018 study on 357 children ranging from infants to school-aged kids, researchers discovered that babies who have allergic reactions tend to have stomach issues 89 percent of the time.

Specifically, vomiting was present in 83 percent of severe reactions to foods. And a whopping 94 percent of babies experienced hives as part of their severe reaction versus just 62 percent of school-aged kids.

Only 17 percent of infants had breathing difficulties. In fact, just a single baby had wheezing.

And only one baby had low blood pressure as a result of their severe reaction, which is a hallmark sign of anaphylaxis in older children and adults.

That all said, its important to be able to identify any allergy signs in your little one, especially soon after consuming certain foods.

If your child has any of these signs, dont hesitate to call 911 and get help. Even if you arent sure, its better to be safe than sorry.

Depending on the severity of the reaction, youll want to act fast to get your baby help especially if this is their first reaction.

In particular, youll want to get emergency help if your baby has:

• shortness of breath

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How To Read A Label For Wheat

Always read the entire ingredient label to look for the names of wheat. Wheat ingredients may be within the list of the ingredients. Or it could be listed in a Contains: Wheat statement beneath the list of ingredients. The federal Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act requires this. Learn more about the U.S. food allergen labeling law.

FALCPA requires that all packaged foods regulated by the FDA must list “wheat” clearly on the ingredient label if it contains wheat. Advisory statements such as may contain wheat or made in a facility with wheat are voluntary. Advisory statements are not required by any federal labeling law. Discuss with your doctor if you may eat products with these labels or if you should avoid them.

Did you know that bulgur, malt, and seitan all contain wheat? Wheat may be an added ingredient in flours, baked goods and other products made with alternative grains, such as rice crackers. The FDA food allergen label law requires foods to state if they contain a top 8 allergen such as wheat. But, there are many foods and products that are not covered by the law, so it is still important to know how to read a label for wheat ingredients. Products exempt from plain English labeling rules: Foods that are not regulated by the FDA. Cosmetics and personal care items. Prescription and over-the-counter medications. Toys, crafts and pet food. Download and print our Wheat Allergy Avoidance List and Travel Cards to carry with you and share.

Mental Or Emotional Issues

Certain proteins in wheat have been scientifically shown to negatively affect your mood and cognitive functioning. Gluten is one of the biggest culprits. Keep in mind that weve told you that if you have gluten intolerance then you have a wheat allergy . These negative effects include but are not limited to mood swings, depression, anxiety, and mental disorders.

As the study of wheat allergies itself, there are a lot of theories about why wheat proteins can put you in a bad mood. Some scientists believe that its an autoimmune response issue. Some say that its because exorphines bind with morphine receptors in the brain.

No matter which theory you come across, there is one common consensus wheat allergies, or rather the lack of control of wheat allergies, cause mental and emotional issues.

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Why Does My Pug Have A Lot Of Breathing Problems

As your Pug gets older, they will usually struggle with breathing problems. Mindy didnt have a lot of breathing problems as a puppy, but as she got older, she became intolerable to a lot more things. We had to make sure that she stayed indoors as much as possible during the summer because she just couldnt tolerate the heat anymore.

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Lactose Intolerance Symptoms And Gluten Symptoms Can Be Similar

Lactose is a sugar found in milk. Lactase is an enzyme that is used to digest the sugar. The enzyme is found on the very tip of the villi of the small intestine.

Villi are finger-like projections in the intestine where absorption occurs. These villi are damaged in newly diagnosed celiac patients and possibly in gluten sensitivity. When this happens, the enzyme is washed away and is not there to digest the lactose .

This creates symptoms of painful gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Often, after some time on a gluten-free diet , the enzyme comes back as the villi repair. Dairy products can once again be introduced into the diet.

Sometimes, however, this doesnt happen, and patients are forced to use a lactase supplement or avoid dairy altogether. Some patients find they can tolerate products such as yogurt or kefir in which the sugar is predigested.

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