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What is Wheat allergy?
Celiac disease is a condition caused by a permanent intolerance to gluten, Gluten is a protein present in wheat, barley, rye, oats. In some people gluten reacts adversely with the intestinal lining, thus reducing its ability to absorb food or more precisely nutients. Wheat therefore is poison for patients suffering from celiac.
Typical symptoms of celiac are chronic diarrhea, vomiting, listlessness, recurrent abdominal pain, malnutrition, stunted growth irritability, anemia and weight loss. It's a disease that manifests itself in children (cases range from 18 months to 12 years) and while a drastic diet therapy cures the attendant problems the allergy is a life long ailment.
"If a child shows symptoms like these, the first and most important thing to do is to see a specialist and get them diagnosed. An endoscopy and a biopsy is a must as that is what determines the diagnosis. It is dangerous to stop wheat and its by-products on your own. Self medication is also a big nono."
Celiac is not a major problem at the moment. There is o need to be alarmed just a need to be careful and conscious. The problem is completely treatable and one needn't lose hope. Of course, a strict diet is necessary and that may seem like a monumental task while dealing with kids.
Compliance is important to prevent complications. An increased appetite, decreased malabsorption, increase in height and weight and improved sense of wellbeing are the signs of good compliance," adds Agarwala.
As an alternative to wheat diets, nutritionists and doctors advise a diet dominated by rice, arrowroot, potato, soybean, dal, sago, tapioca, maize, cornflower, besan and buckwheat flour. Fresh fruits, juices, salads, fresh vegetables, idlis, dosas, roasted corn are some of the other food items that can make a menu interesting. Doctors also advise against an occasional intake of glutenous food as it may cause relapse.