Dear Alexander,
I am allergic to wheat, and I attended camp with a boy my age who says he cannot eat gluten. We have to avoid some of the same foods, but not all of them. What’s the difference between being allergic to wheat and not being able to eat foods with gluten?
Being allergic to wheat means that your immune system is reacting to the proteins found in wheat, while being gluten intolerant (also known as celiac disease) means that if you eat foods with gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley), it causes digestive problems in your stomach.
Most kids with wheat allergy can eat other cereal grains such as rye and barley, while those who have celiac disease cannot. Both of you can relate to each other, in that you must avoid foods that contain wheat.
The information above is not designed to take the place of a doctor’s instructions. Patients are urged to contact a doctor for specific information regarding guidelines for care.
