Gluten allergy diagnosis

About one in every 150 people suffer from a gluten allergy which results from the consumption of cereal grains such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, and malt. Gluten itself contains two proteins that are called gliadin and glutenin. The body's digestive system cannot absorb these proteins and leads to poor health. If not sure if you suffer from gluten allergy then consult your doctor for tests and a diagnosis.

What are the Causes of Gluten Allergy?

Gluten allergy tends to be hereditary, that is, this autoimmune disease is often passed down through the family. These allergic responses to gluten usually result in so called Celiac disease. Each individual will differ in the level of intolerance to gluten, it may be just a mild inflammation of the inner intestinal lining, or it could be severe damage to the intestine wall. The most common symptoms in people with a gluten allergy include lack of stamina, feeling tired and fatigued, headaches and in some cases breathing problems and skin conditions like dryness and itching.

Gluten Allergy Diagnosis

As discussed so far any individual who has symptoms in relation to a gluten allergy will have gastrointestinal discomfort and digestion issues. It is more than likely that people who suffer digestion problems will have gluten intolerance. Therefore people who consume the four main grains and have these symptoms should go for gluten tests and diagnosis.

Elimination Methods

People can follow a diet without medical assistance. They can begin by eliminating all foods that contain gluten. The aim here being that after a few days on a gluten free diet the symptoms experienced previously will subside. To further confirm the outcome go back to a diet that does contain gluten and if the old symptoms return then it is sure that you are sensitive to the gluten proteins.

Further testing can be undertaken via a blood test, firstly when on the gluten free diet and secondly when back on the diet containing gluten proteins. The tests will be compared to ascertain the amount of antibodies which confirm if the person is allergic to the gluten proteins.

However, having an endoscopy will determine precisely if the individual has a gluten allergy because there are signs that show damage to the mucosal lining of the small intestine and duodenum. However, this test can be highly uncomfortable since a flexible tube with a small camera on the end is passed down the throat until reaching the gastrointestinal column.