Allergic reactions to durum wheat produce the same allergy symptoms as responses to other types of wheat. This means that patients with wheat sensitivities must avoid grains, such as rye and oats, that contain similar allergenic proteins. Along with hard white and hard red wheats, widely used in baking breads, durum wheat, used in making pasta, can cause adverse health effects in some people. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, children have a higher incidence of allergies to wheat than adults.
Features
Allergy symptoms from eating any kind of wheat may develop in young children shortly after consuming pasta noodles or baked goods. Symptoms in the mouth, nasal area and digestive tract arise immediately or within an hour or two after eating problem foods, as UMMC reports. A rare condition called anaphylaxis may complicate health effects, involving the entire body. Young children tend to outgrow allergies to wheat by the time they reach 5 years of age, unless their exposure to wheat continues. Wheat allergies are less common in adolescents.
Effects
The histamines released by the body when people with wheat allergies eat allergenic foods can cause itching in the eyes, throat and lining of the mouth. The Mayo Clinic website adds to these allergy symptoms watery eyes and runny and stuffy nose. Digestive upset includes abdominal pain, intestinal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Some patients develop itchy skin rashes after eating foods that contain durum wheat. Less often, the onset of trouble breathing and abnormally low blood pressure lead to anaphylactic shock.
Identification
Patients who experience these extreme symptoms, including racing pulse, dizziness and mental confusion should get immediate medical assistance. Because anaphylaxis can be fatal, patients or parents who suspect wheat allergies should pursue a doctor's diagnosis to identify the offending allergen. UMMC emphasizes that avoiding all types of wheat is the only sure way to prevent minor as well as anaphylactic symptoms.
Misconceptions
Wheat allergies differ from gluten-specific conditions, such as celiac disease, which affects the small intestine. The Mayo Clinic website reports that gluten is present in grains such as bulgar and barley, as well as wheat. A person who is allergic to wheat must avoid gluten but may or may not have celiac disease. Medical testing will clarify which substance is causing allergy symptoms and which foods patients can safely eat.
Prevention
Learning which foods might contain durum wheat and similar grains will help patients avoid them. MayoClinic.com notes that many food additives are derived from wheat starch and other parts of the grain. Parents must monitor children's diets, to prevent them eating foods such as cereals, cakes, hot dogs, crackers, soy sauce and items that contain modified food starch or hydrolyzed vegetable protein.
