Types of Gluten Allergy - An Overview

Introduction:

Gluten intolerance is a reasonably common concern. It is characterized by several adverse responses to gluten. Gluten refers to a protein that is found in numerous grains and crops, especially in wheat, barley, as well as rye. There are many potential etiological factors of gluten allergy. A few of them that are quite well-known are mentioned below.

• Celiac disease.

• Non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

• Wheat allergy.

All kinds of gluten allergies have the potential to end up in widespread clinical manifestation, wherein the majority of them do not have anything to do with the digestive system. Normally, the most known adverse reactions are those related to all sorts of intestinal distress, such as those mentioned below.

• Stomach ache.

• Sharp pains in the abdomen.

• Diarrhea.

• Flatulence.

There are a few additional adverse reactions that are lesser known to the general public, and a few of them are mentioned below.

• Brain fog.

• Spaciness.

• Balance issues.

• Memory issues.

• Fatigue.

• Joint pain.

• Anemia.

• Infertility.

• Skin rash.

• A feeling of fire under the skin.

• Thyroid disease.

• Osteoporosis.

• Dental enamel defects.

• Canker sores.

• Ulcers in the mouth.

• Dry mouth syndrome.

• Atrophic glossitis.

Allergies of wheat, such as hay fever and other kinds of allergies, may develop within the individual’s immune system after it becomes quite sensitized and begins to overreact to any factor in the environment. In such cases, wheat generally causes not many problems for the majority of individuals. Commonly, an individual is at greater risk for the growth of an allergy to any kind of food item, that includes wheat as well, in case they come from a family wherein allergies or allergic conditions, such as asthma or eczema, are quite common and actively running. In case both of the parents of an individual have allergies, the individual is much more likely to develop a sort of food allergy as against an individual who has solely a single parent who is suffering from allergies.

What Are the Types of Gluten Allergy?

Gluten intolerance is a general term for adverse reactions to a protein called “gluten,” which is found in wheat, barley, and rye. Types of gluten intolerance include celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy.

• Celiac Disease: This kind of gluten allergy can be understood as an autoimmune disorder where eating gluten will damage the small intestine. The symptoms are several such as diarrhea, bloating, pain in the upper and lower abdomen, as well as rapid and unexplained weight loss. The treatment of celiac disease is quite clear, which is to eliminate all the food items from one’s diet that includes gluten in it.

• Gluten Hypersensitivity: This kind of gluten sensitivity can be defined as a high level of intolerance to gluten without any sort of damage to the small intestine but with a certain level of discomfort. The signs and symptoms of gluten sensitivity are faintly similar to celiac disease, and for this reason, gluten sensitivity is generally mistaken for celiac disease. There is, thus, a very distinguishable blood test for the accurate diagnosis of celiac disease. The signs and symptoms of diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, brain fog, and headache. The treatment of gluten hypersensitivity includes the elimination of gluten from one’s diet.

• Wheat Allergy: This kind of gluten allergy refers to the response of the immune system of an individual to either one or more proteins that are found in certain grains, especially wheat. The signs and symptoms of wheat allergy include diarrhea, bloating, pain and discomfort in the abdomen, nausea along with vomiting, rashes all over the skin, itchiness and irritation in the eyes as well as the throat, in addition to difficulty breathing. The total and complete elimination of wheat from one’s diet is the only treatment option available for wheat allergy.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Gluten Allergy?

It should be known that the signs and symptoms of a gluten allergy are generally quite mild; nevertheless, in a few cases, the symptoms of gluten allergy may be extremely severe in nature and may also have the potential to be quite deadly, and this is why making a diagnosis along with an appropriate management strategy of the allergy is imperative. Wheat allergy is the most common type of gluten allergy and is observed mostly in children. But, around two-thirds of such children do outgrow the allergy at a relatively early age. It should be noted that the majority of the patients suffering from wheat allergy may eat other grains as well. Still, this is not true for everyone. Mentioned below are a few of the signs and symptoms of gluten allergy.

• Hives.

• Presence of skin rashes.

• Nausea.

• Regular stomach cramps.

• Indigestion.

• Vomiting.

• Diarrhea.

• Stuffy and runny nose.

• Sneezing.

• Headaches.

• Asthma attacks.

• Anaphylaxis.

How to Diagnose Gluten Allergy?

The accurate diagnosis of gluten allergy is quite crucial. This is because a majority of the signs and symptoms that the patient presents with overlap with different varieties of gluten allergy, and this may hamper the apt treatment strategy that should be adopted. Thus, necessary tests must be done in order to distinguish between the different kinds of gluten allergy. Medical history of the patient, complete family history, clear understanding of the clinical manifestations, accurate lab tests, and an oral food challenge under medical supervision in order to observe the development of the adverse reaction with the presence of necessary emergency medical equipment and medicaments, are a few of the paths to diagnosis the presence of gluten allergy, and the variety of gluten allergy, accurately.

Conclusion:

Gluten allergy is not something that is new to the world of medical sciences under the specialty of allergies. There are several ways to avoid gluten allergy but the main way is to understand the immune system of the individual since such allergies may develop on their own or be backed by several etiological factors. The only effective treatment for gluten allergy is a strict gluten-free diet, which involves avoiding all sources of gluten. This requires careful label reading, meal planning, and potentially seeking out gluten-free alternatives. It is crucial for individuals with gluten allergies to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle to prevent symptoms, promote intestinal healing, and reduce the risk of associated conditions.