Toddlers & Allergies to Whole Grains

About Allergies

• Allergies result when the human immune system responds to a substance such as protein. Under normal circumstances, the immune system fights bacteria and viruses to protect people from infections. In a person with an allergy, however, the immune system mistakes something harmless for an invader, and attacks it with chemicals such as histamine. Histamine causes the symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as hives, swelling or shortness of breath. In some cases, your toddler might have a severe reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life threatening. Be sure to contact your child̵7;s pediatrician with any concerns you have.

Wheat Allergy

• Wheat allergy is among the top eight toddler allergies, according to staff writers on the KidsHealth website. A true wheat allergy is not the same thing as celiac disease, which typically shows up between 6 months and 2 years of age, according to KidsHealth. Many children with wheat allergy outgrow the problem, but celiac disease is a life-long condition. A toddler with a wheat allergy might become nauseated and vomit, develop itching or watery eyes, or have hives or diarrhea.

Gluten Allergy

• When a child has a gluten allergy, she might be sensitive to any grain that contains gluten, according to a March 2011 article in ̶0;The Wall Street Journal.̶1; the writer notes that even when people don̵7;t have celiac disease, gluten can cause an immune system reaction and affect the intestines, according to a study at the University of Maryland's Center for Celiac Research. Food Allergy Research and Education, a non-profit website about food allergies developed after a merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network and the Food Allergy Initiative, reports that about 20 percent of children who have wheat allergy may also be sensitive to grains such as barley, rye or oats.

Skin Testing

• Skin testing is the best way to determine whether a child has a grain allergy, according to KidsHealth, although it is most reliable in children over the age of 2. An allergist usually performs skin tests , who gives an injection that contains a drop of the substance. The allergist places this substance on the skin and lightly pricks the skin. A red, raised reaction to the injection or skin prick means the child is allergic to the test substance. In some cases, a blood test might be safer, as skin testing involves injecting the child with a small amount of the offending substance, which might cause a reaction in a child who has a severe allergy.

Preventing Reactions

• Allergies have no cure, and there is no guarantee that your toddler will outgrow her grain allergy. Allergy injections, called immunotherapy, cannot be used for food allergies, so you must help your toddler avoid foods that might cause a reaction. Wheat is particularly prevalent, in both the baked goods such as bread, but also in foods such as pasta, cereal, processed meats and soy sauce. Food labels should indicate the presence of any whole grain, but other indications of a grain product might be a term such as ̶0;modified starch.̶1;