How to Identify Gluten Allergy Symptoms

A gluten allergy can be hard to live with. Many of our society's everyday foods contain gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Symptoms of a gluten allergy are similar to any other food allergy, but should not be confused with the symptoms of coeliac disease, a gluten intolerance that is much more dangerous.

The normal symptoms of gluten allergy are triggered by a histamine reaction, which is caused by white blood cells in the body called basophils and mast cells overreacting to the influx of the Immoglobin E. This results in the characteristic symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as watery eyes, sneezing, hives or a skin rash, and stomach discomfort or pain. If suffering from these symptoms, the use of an antihistamine may be beneficial. The severity of symptoms, and well and the number and type of symptoms can very person to person. This type of a reaction usually causes no permanent damage to the person affected. However, there are other symptoms that are sometimes mistaken as a gluten allergy, but are more likely to be caused by a gluten intolerance or celiac disease.

Celiac disease is a autoimmune disease, and the ingestion of gluten by a person suffering from it can actually cause damage to the small intestine. The symptoms of celiac disease can be much more severe, such as constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, mouth ulcers, irritability, and attention problems (sometimes confused with ADHD in children).

It's fairly easy to diagnose a gluten allergy. Most physicians will suggest removing gluten containing products from their patients diet, to see if the symptoms resolve themselves. This is an effective way of detecting and treating a gluten allergy, but not celiac disease. If celiac disease is suspected, blood tests are usually performed. If celiac disease is detected by the blood tests, then a biopsy of the small intestine is performed to confirm the diagnosis.

So in general, the symptoms of an allergic reaction to gluten can range from minimal to extensive, depending on the severity of the allergy in the subject. The important thing is to be able to discern these symptoms from those of the more dangerous celiac disease, and seek treatment from you doctor if you notice the development or worsening of these symptoms.