Could You Be Suffering From A Wheat Allergy?
Testing and Treatment Options for Wheat Allergies

What is wheat allergy?

Wheat allergy is an abnormal immune system reaction to the proteins found in wheat. If you have a wheat allergy, it means that your immune system has developed a specific antibody to a wheat protein.

Allergy to wheat is one of the most common food allergies in children.

What are the symptoms of wheat allergy?

If you have wheat allergy, you will likely experience symptoms within a few minutes to a few hours after eating something containing wheat. Wheat allergy symptoms include:

• Swelling, itching or irritation of the mouth or throat
• Hives, itchy rash or swelling of the skin
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Difficulty breathing
• Cramps, nausea or vomiting
• Anaphylaxis

What is the treatment for wheat allergy?

Avoiding wheat is the primary treatment for wheat allergy, however, medications may be necessary to manage allergic reactions when you accidentally eat wheat.

What is the difference between wheat intolerance and wheat allergy?

Food intolerances should not be confused with traditional food allergies.

Allergies are characterised by the presence of type I IgE antibodies in the blood, which are responsible for immediate, often severe reactions (e.g. allergy to peanuts). The reaction normally occurs a short time after consumption of the offending food, which can be easily recognised as the culprit.

Intolerances are characterised by the presence of type III IgG antibodies. The reactions to an intolerance can occur from between 8 and 72 hours after consumption of the offending food or additive, so are more difficult to pinpoint. Food intolerances occur more frequently than classic allergies and often develop over time.

Testing Options

Traditional food allergies are relatively rare and only affect a small percentage of the population. The ImuPro300 test is not designed to detect such allergies; it is designed to detect type III IgG allergies or food intolerances, which typically cause symptoms that arise between 8 and 72 hours after the offending food has been eaten. Click here to find out more about wheat intolerance.

If you suspect that you may be suffering from wheat intolerance or wheat allergy and would like to discuss the best testing option for you, please send us an email using the form below, or call us on 1300 481 151 for a free, no-obligation information from a food intolerance testing specialist.