Now it's wheat - 7 month old w allergies

[Angeoxford]

Hiya
My DD is 7 months old, with previously bad eczema that is now under control more or less and a cow's milk allergy (hives on contact about 3 months ago).

She's been breastfed - I have a diary free diet - and has nutramigen for weaning and the odd bottle. We have referral to allergy clinic - waiting for appointment to come through which will be at least 2 months

We're weaning and this morning tried her on wheat for the first time (weetbix) which she's reacted to with hives, red face, itching and snuffles. Nothing too dramatic thank goodness and with some piriton it seems to be under control but keeping a close eye

With 2 months to wait before her allergy testing, so my question is...

SHould I keep her off all wheat AND gluten products as we continue to wean? I don't really understand the difference between the two allergies...
I presume it will be OK to try her on pasta, bread etc from a supermarket "free from" type range?

Any other general advice welcome...

Thanks

i would keep her wheat/gluten free yes

gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, among other things (inc oats, barley, rye etc)

you can have an allergy/intolerance to gluten, or just to wheat.

a wheat allergy is just that, an allergic reaction to all things containing wheat.

gluten intolerance or coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease where the body cannot process gluten found in wheat, rye and barley. Oats themselves are gluten free and are generally accepted as being OK for coeliacs these days, but the problem with them is usually one of cross contamination, although you can now buy pure oats in most free from sections.

gluten intolernace would manifest itself more with stomach issues; cramping, diahorrea or an eczema type rash, and afaik (not medical but a coeliac) not the sort of instant hivey reaction your DD has had.

with regard to testing, if she were to be tested for coeliac disease then she would need to be on a gluten containing diet in order for the antibodies to show up in her blood and for the gut damage to be evident in a biopsy. But, if it is, as it sounds, an allergy, then avoidance is the key until you know more.

hth

website for coeliac UK

be careful, some of the free-from stuff are gluten free, but not wheat free.

They somehow take out the gluten from the wheat. I am allergic to wheat and this gets me ill.

good point tralala; I was going to mention that bit forgot

lots of gluten free products contain codex wheat starch which has had the gluten removed, but is still wheat.

coeliac UK has a book that you can buy (free to members) which contains lists of GF products from all the major manufacturers and retailers; it also notes which contain codex wheat starch.

Ange Can I ask if you are being referred to clinic at JR? Just asking as we are also waiting for referral but were told it would be weeks not months so hoping it won't be as long as you've been advised!

Hi and thanks all for the advice - really helpful stuff. I've spoken to the community nurse shes under for her eczema today who confirmed it's wheat, not gluten I should keep her off but of course need to be careful of other things as we wean.

Mrsalways yes its clinic at JR. Following episode at weekend we've been given an urgent appt for next week-again through community nurse -.but initially I was told 12 weeks. The sect of the consultant is helpful on that if you have contact details which I think I've lost but will dig around to check ....

Thanks for letting me know. We received a copy of the letter the dermatologist has sent to the allergy Dr requesting she sees DD2. Hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer.