Any time you have an allergic reaction that causes inflammation in your body, you're at risk of developing secondary infections. Children are the most prone to develop food allergies, such as a gluten allergy that could cause an ear infection. If your child is allergic to gluten, you need to implement a strict gluten-free diet under the direction of your child's pediatrician.
Gluten Allergies
Gluten is a protein is commonly associated with a wheat allergy, but may also be found in rye and barley. If you have an allergy to this protein, your immune system makes the mistake of identifying it as a danger to the body. When this occurs, the immune system attacks the gluten with antibodies that attempt to rid it from the body. Antibodies communicate with white blood cells, which trigger the production of histamine in soft tissues, according to MayoClinic.com. Histamine causes increased blood flow to tissues, making your lungs constrict and increasing mucus production in the body.
Inflammation and Secondary Infections
Any time inflammation occurs in an area of the body, there is concern of infection settling in. When your immune system overreacts to gluten, triggering the production of histamine, soft tissues in your lungs, skin, digestive system and sinuses can become swollen. The swelling of the sinus cavity and other soft tissues in the head can block your ability to breathe through your nose and increase the amount of mucus in your nasal passages. If the inflammation continues for a few days, bacteria may develop in your sinuses or your inner ear, causing a secondary infection.
Ear Infection
Allergic reactions are one of the most common causes of ear infections in children. Ear infections mainly affect young children because of small tubes that help drain mucus from the ear are underdeveloped, according to PubMed Health. If your child experiences an allergic reaction to gluten, the inflammation produced from the reaction can cause fluid to remain in the ear, cutting off its ability to properly drain. Common symptoms of an ear infection are pain in the ear, fever, excessive crying, vomiting, diarrhea and hearing loss in the ear.
Prevention and Treatment
The only way to effectively treat and prevent gluten-related ear infections from recurring in your child is to remove all gluten from your child's diet. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American states that common foods that contain gluten include couscous, cereals, bran, bread crumbs, semolina wheat, vital gluten, wheat germ, wheat malt, breads and crackers.
