causes of wheat allergy

Mar 28, 2026

Wheat Allergy: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Wheat Allergy: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Wheat Allergy is not uncommon. Around 1% of the population suffers from it.

-Do you find difficulty digesting your daily food? 

-Are you one of the people suffering from diarrhoea? 

-Do you often have a runny nose?

There might be chances you are suffering from a wheat allergy, which impairs your immunity.

See a general doctor for wheat allergy treatment. If you have any such symptoms, you are in the right place. This blog discusses the causes, diagnosis, and treatments of wheat allergy.

What is A Wheat Allergy?

So, what is a wheat allergy? It is basically an allergic reaction to wheat-based food. Simply put, if you ate, drank, or even inhaled wheat, there will be a disruption in your immune system.

If you have an immune reaction to wheat proteins, you may need to consult a professional for effective treatment.

What Are The Causes Of Wheat Allergy?

These days, one of the keywords/searches that is done quite often is: ‘how to cure wheat allergy naturally?’

If you have a wheat allergy, your entire immune system will be affected. Now, the important point is that basically four classes of wheat result in causing allergy. They include:

  • Globulin.

  • Albumin.

  • Gliadin.

  • Gluten.

Now, what are the sources of these proteins? They are usually found in food substances like:

  • Semolina.

  • Farina.

  • Crackers.

  • Cakes and cookies.

  • Bread and breadcrumbs.

  • Soy sauce.

  • Gelatinised starch.

  • Modified food starch.

  • Hydrolysed vegetable protein.

So its better not to have them in your food if you have wheat allergy. 

How Is The Diagnosis Of Wheat Allergy Done?

An allergy doctor, does the test and diagnosis. Before the wheat allergy test, they may ask you certain questions:

  • If the patient has any hereditary history of wheat allergies.

  • If the patient has ever been diagnosed with any other food allergies.

  • What his/her allergy symptoms are.

  • If the patient takes any over-the-counter medication.

Thereafter, the medical professionals suggest from among the following tests.

Skin Prick (scratch) Test

The first to mention is the Skin Prick test. The allergist first cleans the area on your body with alcohol which is selected for the test.

The allergist then uses a thin needle to prick the skin with liquid containing wheat proteins.

Blood (IgE) test

Here, the lab technician uses a thin needle to withdraw a small amount of blood. The blood sample is then taken to a laboratory for testing. The results are usually obtained within a week.

Wheat Allergy Treatment

The most effective treatment of wheat allergy is avoiding wheat and wheat-related products. When you consult a skin allergy doctor, he/she will ask you to avoid and better shun some food items that we have mentioned above.

In case of moderate allergy, your healthcare provider may prescribe you corticosteroids or antihistamine medication for achieving the much-required relief.

If the allergy is severe, in that case your healthcare provider may ask you to take epinephrine injections.

These injections effectively manage your allergy and anaphylaxis symptoms.

So, wheat allergy impacts your body’s immunity negatively. You have to ensure you shun the food and non-food products.

In addition, while selecting food items, you must check the contents and then consume them. Most importantly, you must consult an allergy doctor to start your treatment immediately.

FAQ

Q1. What to eat if I am allergic to wheat?

If you are allergic to wheat, you could choose unprocessed foods like fish, eggs, fresh meat, vegetables, and dairy. You could also eat rice, corn, quinoa, etc.

Q2. What are the most common symptoms of wheat Allergy?

The most common symptoms of wheat allergy include itching, swelling, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Q3. Can you name one of the few safe alternatives of wheat?

In the Indian diet, the most common alternatives include jowar, bajra, gluten-free flour, and ragi.

Q4. How is wheat allergy diagnosed in Kolkata and suburbs like North Dumdum?

Wheat allergy in North Dumdum is diagnosed with tests like the skin prick test, blood test, etc.

Q5. Which doctor should I consult for wheat allergy?

A general physician or an immunologist specialises in treating wheat allergy.