When my wife and I tell people that our son, Graeme, is allergic to wheat, most of them assume he has a gluten intolerance or celiac disease. When I explain that he actually has a wheat allergy, which is different, they usually look confused.
I don’t blame them. Until my son developed severe food allergies, I had no idea there was a difference between an allergy and a food intolerance. But the distinction is important. An allergy is an autoimmune reaction to a foreign substance such as certain proteins found in peanuts. That reaction can cause:
- Tingling in the mouth or swelling of the lips
- Cramps, nausea, or diarrhea
- Itchy skin with hives
- A stuffy nose
- Shortness of breath
- Light-headedness
- Swelling in the throat and tongue
- Wheezing or breathing difficulty
- Vomiting
More severe reactions can lead to anaphylaxis, which, in turn, can cause low blood pressure, shock, unconsciousness, and even death.
A food intolerance, on the other hand, is typically a gastrointestinal response—nausea, vomiting, painful cramping, and diarrhea. The immune system is usually not involved.
Although symptoms from food intolerance are often mild, some can be debilitating. For example, people who are gluten intolerant may experience severe gas and bloating when they eat foods rich in gluten (such as bread and pasta).
And celiac disease—the severest form of gluten intolerance—can cause anemia and osteoporosis, and raise the risk of lymphoma. In children, the condition can lead to slow growth and weakened bones. (The immune system is involved in celiac disease; gluten triggers an immune response that damages the parts of the small intestine that allow nutrients to be absorbed into the body.)
Still, not every food intolerance manifests itself in the gut. We have a friend whose daughter has severe behavior issues when she consumes cheese and certain other foods. And sometimes food intolerance causes muscle and joint aches and fatigue.
Next page: Each condition requires different treatment
Comments (2)
Good post! I’ve had food allergies since I was 2, and food intolerences since about 12. There is a huge difference between hives spreading over your eyes, and a stomachache. Both are bad, but 1 is worse. When I was small, the allergist hoped I would outgrow them, but most I still have. My biggest break is that I am allergic to easy to spot foods like citrus,egg yolks,and tomatoes. I would have been in big trouble if I would have had a peanut allergy, since I lived on Peanut butter sandwiches for years…..
This is why it is important to introduce your baby to only one new food at a time and see if there is a reaction over an extended period of approximately two weeks. When a allergy outbreak does happen, revert to “safe” foods and slowly re-introduce foods to find the offending culprit. cherylmikela