Skin-prick Test - Can It Diagnose A Wheat Allergy?

[Guest cassidy]

I have been gluten-free for 6 months - today! I am doing so much better.

I have a very good friend who has been having intestinal issues, stomach aches, nervousness, pretty much everything I had before I stopped gluten. I have been encouraging her to go to the doctor and try to figure out what is wrong.

She went to an allergist the other day and they did a skin-prick test. She got a huge welt for wheat. So, if she has a skin response to wheat, would that mean that she has a wheat allergy - the type that could cause the problems she has been having?

I am one of those that went to doctors for years and I was the one that figured out I had celiac - not all of my doctors. I don't have much faith in doctors, but I want to help her. Her doctor told her he would do a blood test for food allergies - which I know isn't very accurate - and they would see. Since she gets sick so much he is concerned that she might be allergic to salt! I almost fell out of my chair. Salt? I'm sure it can happen, but it isn't one of the top allergens and with her skin reaction to wheat, I thought it was crazy for him to say that.

Her dad has a horrible lactose reaction. He has to be as careful with it as we are with gluten and he still has lots of intestinal issues. She knows hers isn't lactose because they are aware of that because of her dad, but I wonder if they both have problems with wheat.

[jayhawkmom]

She went to an allergist the other day and they did a skin-prick test. She got a huge welt for wheat. So, if she has a skin response to wheat, would that mean that she has a wheat allergy - the type that could cause the problems she has been having?

Very well could be. My daughter has a gluten intolerance but also has a true wheat allergy, as determined by skin prick and RAST testing. The two can occur together, but really have no relationship. Whether or not she was determined to be Gluten Intolerant, the wheat allergy alone was enough to say NO WHEAT.

Is she planning to be further tested for Celiac? If so...I would advise she continue to ingest gluten, but steer clear of wheat.

[tarnalberry]

Yes, that response to the skin test means she's allergic to wheat. It says nothing about being gluten intolerant, of course, as gluten intolerance is not an allergy, and the skin test only tests for alleriges, not intolerances.

[Guest cassidy]

Yes, that response to the skin test means she's allergic to wheat. It says nothing about being gluten intolerant, of course, as gluten intolerance is not an allergy, and the skin test only tests for alleriges, not intolerances.

And a wheat allergy can cause intestinal symptoms like celiac? When I think of allergies I think of sneezing and a runny nose. Is having a wheat allergy any easier diet-wise than having celiac?

I think I'm in denial that such a good friend of mine is going through this.

[tarnalberry]

And a wheat allergy can cause intestinal symptoms like celiac? When I think of allergies I think of sneezing and a runny nose. Is having a wheat allergy any easier diet-wise than having celiac?

I think I'm in denial that such a good friend of mine is going through this.

While a wheat allergy usually doesn't cause those kind of symptoms, it's not outside the realm of the possible. I would probably encourage her to be tested, but it's not guaranteed she'll be positive, of course.

Yes, avoiding wheat only is easier than having celiac. She would be able to eat oats, rye, barley, and *possibly* spelt. (Some people allergic to wheat can have spelt, some can't.)

[shai76]

Yes food allergies do cause intestinal symptoms. It can cause stomach aches, bloody diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, reflux. They call it gastrointestinal anaphelexis. I've had it before from my food allergies, so I know! I am allergic to wheat and tested positive on the blood test for celiac. I don't know for certain if I am gluten intolerant because I can't really challenge it. I'm also allergic to oats, and other grains.

Food allergies are considered life threatening, where as intolerances are not. Celiac can lead to death, though not as sudden and violent as food allergy.

Other non-gastro symptoms of food allergy are wheezing, hives, eczema, swelling, low blood pressure.