What is the difference between a 'gluten' allergy and celiac disease?
Learn more about "gulten" allergies, celiac disease and wheat allergies. What's the difference between these conditions?
Lately, it seems like everyone is talking about gluten free products. What is gluten exactly and does it need to be avoided by all?
Gluten refers to a family of proteins found in the grains of wheat, barley, and rye. Celiac disease is a form of gluten intolerance, but strictly speaking, it is not an allergy. It is a rather a complex immune phenomenon involving antibodies that the body produces when someone eats gluten. These antibodies lead to damage of the lining of the small intestine, which can affect absorption of foods and can lead to malnutrition.
Most kids with celiac disease will have abdominal symptoms when they ingest gluten. Some will also have a rash similar in appearance to eczema. There is a genetic component to celiac disease, it tends to run in families, and is more common among Caucasians than among other racial and ethnic groups. The best way to diagnose celiac disease is by blood test to measure IgA levels against gluten components. The only real treatment is to remove gluten – primarily wheat – from the diet. People with celiac disease who avoid gluten usually do quite well, but approximately 15 percent of patients will have non-responsive celiac disease.
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