When Will My Child Outgrow His Wheat Allergy?

Question: When Will My Child Outgrow His Wheat Allergy?

Answer: Wheat allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, affecting up to 1% of all children. Because wheat is a common ingredient in most people’s diets, avoidance of wheat can be quite difficult. Like milk and egg allergy, which most children outgrow by their teenage years, kids also tend to outgrow wheat allergy.

A study performed in 2009 sought to determine when children with wheat allergy would outgrow their food allergy. This study found that half of children had outgrown their wheat allergy by 6-and-a-half years of age, and that almost all of the children had outgrown their wheat allergy by 14 years of age. In this study, allergy blood testing for the amount of allergic antibody to wheat was useful in predicting if a child had outgrown their food allergy.

Parents often want to know when their allergic child will outgrow their food allergy. Recent studies show that most food allergies, with the exception of nuts and seafood, are likely to be outgrown. Allergy blood testing and oral food challenges are important tools for the allergist to utilize in helping a person determine when they’ve outgrown a food allergy.

Learn more:

• More on Outgrowing Food Allergies
• How to Follow a Wheat-Free Diet

_Source:

_{Keet CA, et al. The Natural History of Wheat Allergy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009; 102-410-5.}

_{DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.}