Healthy villi (left), Flattened villi (right)
Gluten allergy symptoms vary greatly from one patient to another. Some people who have gluten allergy do not develop any symptoms at all and are not even aware of being allergic to gluten, however, the disease typically does not go unnoticed. It causes chronic inflammation of the small intestine which eventually starts to cause problems if the patient eats foods that contain gluten such as wheat, barley, rye and oats. The incidence of this type of gluten intolerance which is also known as celiac disease and celiac sprue remains unknown but health experts believe that it is relatively common. It can be developed by both children and adults.
Autoimmune Disorder
Most people who are allergic to gluten do not experience gluten allergy symptoms until they develop problems that occur if they continue to eat gluten-containing foods. This is due to the fact that celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system misidentifies a mixture of proteins that are found in gluten as harmful invaders. As a result, the immune system releases antibodies to fight “the invaders“. This leads to inflammation of the small intestine which in turn causes gluten allergy symptoms. They may include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, ulcers in the mouth and a variety of other gastrointestinal problems.
It is also possible to develop non-gastrointestinal problems such as dermatitis herpetiformis causing an itchy skin rash, depression, anemia (deficiency of red blood cells), alopecia (hair loss), follicular keratosis (skin problem), inadequate production of tooth enamel, bone problems including osteoporosis (loss of bone density), arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and unexplained weight loss.
Gluten Free Diet
Gluten allergy symptoms subside when the patient eliminates gluten-containing foods from his or her diet. However, if the disease is not discovered early it can lead to malnutrition and further weight loss because the chronic inflammation of the small intestine causes damage to the intestinal villi, small finger-like structures in the intestines which play the key role in absorption of nutrients. The intestinal villi become shorter and flatter if the patient continues to eat foods that contain gluten and absorb fewer and fewer nutrients. As a result, the patient continues to lose weight despite having a normal or increased appetite.
The involves removing all wheat, rye, and barley products from the diet. including breads, crackers, pastas, cookies, and pies. It is very important that patents be aware of processed foods that are known to contain gluten. Products such as canned soups, ice cream, salad dressings and instant coffee are notorious for containing wheat flour.
Because celiacs tend to be lactose intolerant, dairy products that contain lactose should be avoided. Upon remission and under a doctor’s watch, it may be possible to reintroduce dairy products into the diet
It is not unusual for people with gluten allergy symptoms who are on a gluten free diet to fall short on fiber consumption. That is because in a normal diet, much of the fiber comes from wheat products. Add to this, most gluten free diet products tend to be highly processed and therefore low on fiber.
Gluten Allergy Symptoms? See Your Doctor
If you or your child develops gluten allergy symptoms, you should visit your doctor. A blood test will determine whether the immune system is releasing antibodies to fight gluten. If the blood test is positive, the next step is an endoscopy (a procedure during which a gastroenterologist inserts a flexible tube with a camera through the mouth) to see the inside of the small intestine.
Testing for Gluten Intolerance
Gastroenterologist will probably also make a biopsy (take a small sample of the tissue) and then look the sample under a microscope to see whether there are any signs of damage caused by celiac disease. If all the tests confirm gluten allergy, your doctor will recommend strict avoidance of all gluten-containing foods because at the moment of writing, no medications or treatments exist for the disease. If you or someone you know is experiencing gluten allergy symptoms a doctor should be the next call.
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