Characteristics of Gluten Allergy
Gluten is the name of a protein found in cereals such as wheat, rye and barley, but also in low level oats. Because it is chewy, it plays a very important role in dough binding. This fact determines the increased levels of gluten that are used in bakeries, in our days.

 Gluten is not the only protein found in the cereals that have been mentioned earlier that can trigger an allergic reaction. The cereals contain the following proteins: glutenin, gliadin, globulin and albumin. The first one is more commonly known as gluten.
The symptoms of gluten allergy are not the same for everybody. In addition, it is very important to know that the severity of the symptoms also differs among the persons who have gluten allergy. The seriousness depends on the amount of gluten that has been consumed.

The most frequent gluten allergy symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, hives and swelling. In addition, as it happens with all the other types of allergies, the respiratory tract gets affected, too. In consequence, it is not uncommon to experience asthma, long congestion, stuffed nose and shortness of breath.

 Allergic asthma is a symptom that is associated with the more serious forms of gluten allergy. People must consult a doctor as soon as these symptoms are observed. The doctor will perform the analysis, which is based on two tests. First of all, a skin prick test is performed, in order to observe the reaction to various allergens. Next, a blood test is made. After the diagnosis is done, the doctor will chose the most appropriate treatment, according to the severity of the symptoms.

The best way to get rid of gluten allergy is to stop consuming foods and products that include this protein in their composition. This measure must be taken especially if the symptoms are very serious. In other cases, people can relieve the symptoms simply be reducing the intake of gluten.

The way each person reacts to gluten depends on the immune system and on the age. It has been reported that most children are able to outgrow this condition. In children, the signs of gluten allergy include impaired growth, irritability and poor appetite. Furthermore, the muscles develop very hard and the nutritive substances are assimilated with difficulty.

 In adults, diarrhea, constipation and a considerable weight loss may indicate a gluten allergy. It is also important to know that this particular type of allergy may be transmitted from one generation to another, fact that makes it different from the other types of allergy.