Celiac Disease Symptoms, Diagnosis and Celiac Disease Treatment

Several children exhibit sensitivities to particular foods, most of which are not grave. But, Celiac disease is a severe condition occurring due to long-standing gluten intolerance – a kind of protein present in wheat, rye and barley. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease (the individual’s immune system goes into self-destructive mode).

About forty thousand celiac disease cases have been detected in the United States. In case the child is having celiac disease, then consumption of gluten would cause major harm to the villi (finger-alike protuberances that line the small intestines of the child).

Risk Factors:

Kids are at increased risk of developing celiac disease when they are having:

• Type 1 diabetes.
• Autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Dermatitis herpetiformis.
• Down’s / Turner’s/ Williams syndrome.
• A family relative who has celiac disease.

Celiac Disease Symptoms:

The symptoms could surface in any age subsequent to gluten being included into daily dietetic intake. Signs could differ among children with few being asymptomatic. The child would become symptomatic by the time some extent of damage has been caused to the small intestines. Hence, if doubtful about the presence of celiac disease, the paediatrician must be promptly contacted.

Symptoms comprise of:

• Persistent diarrhea or atypically being constipated.
• Vomiting.
• Feeling bloated and gaseous.
• Irritable behaviour.
• Lowered craving for food and might be accompanied by inadequate weight gain.
• Impediment in growth and attaining puberty.
• Iron-deficit anemia.
• Weariness.
• Cracked or fractured bones or thinning in the bones.
• Decline in muscle mass in the limb region.
• Corroded tooth enamel or stoppage in enamel development.
• A chronically appearing scratchy rash known as dermatitis herpetiformis.

Celiac Disease Diagnosis & Tests:

• In case celiac disease is doubted, the child’s blood analysis would be done. The two tests carried out would be TG (transglutaminase antibody) and EMA (anti-endomysial antibody) testing that have high accuracy and reliability in ascertaining the possibility of celiac disease.
• For corroborating a celiac disease diagnosis, a small tissue sample would be taken from the small intestine by the procedure known as endoscopy with biopsy which would be sent for microscopic analysis.

Celiac Disease Treatment:

• No sooner is the child’s dietetic intake made gluten-free, there is bound be significant improvement within a week or two.
• In the course of the subsequent 6-12 months of adhering to a gluten-free diet, there would be complete healing of any harm previously caused to the intestinal lining. This would reflect in an improvement in the infant’s growth and bone strength and mass normalising.
• This adherence to a gluten-free diet has to be life-long. This would translate to be a big ‘no-no’ to victuals like bread, cereals, pastries, pizza or any food items having wheat, barley, rye.

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