Overview of Celiac Disease in Childhood
Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of an Autoimmune Disease
Nov 25, 2008
Celiac is an autoimmune disease that can develop during any point in life, from a newborn child to a senior adult. If there is a history of the disease within the family, there are greater risks for others to develop the disease as well. For a child who has been diagnosed with celiac disease, it can be devastating, as it entirely alters what he can eat, making him different from his peers.
The Cause of Celiac Disease
While it is not exactly known what causes celiac disease, it is known that it affects the villi located in the small intestines. The villi are tiny finger-like projections that absorb gluten and other proteins for the body to use, including those from wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. If the disease is left untreated, the body's ability to absorb gluten correctly is altered, thus making it dangerous for a child to eat anything containing gluten.
The problem is that many children will go without diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease because it is usually passed off as a stomach virus or some other intestinal disorder. It is not until the disease has progressed that a child is correctly diagnosed.
Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease
There are many signs and symptoms for celiac disease. It is important to know that the disease can affect each person differently. This is one of the causes of delayed diagnosis. Investigate having your child checked for celiac if he displays one or more of the following signs and symptoms:
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Weight loss
- Feeling tired
- Skin rash
Even if symptoms appear to come and go, meaning your child feels terrible one day and better the next day, do not ignore what he is feeling. Because celiac is a chronic disease, this will happen, but does not make the disease any less serious.
Effects of Celiac Disease
There are many conditions that are often associated with celiac disease. Some of these include:
- Anemia
- Thyroid disease
- Lactose intolerance
- Infertility
- Systemic lupus
- Malnutrition
- Type 1 diabetes
- Other neurological disorders
This means that if a child has celiac disease, he is more susceptible to contracting one or more of the above conditions as well. This is mainly due to the fact that the body is not receiving the proper nutrition it needs to function, and because of the damage to the small intestines. That is why it is important to get a diagnosis made as quickly as possible.
Testing for Celiac Disease
There are four main blood tests used to diagnosis celiac disease. The four together are called the "Celiac Blood Panel." These include:
- EMA (Immunoglobulin A anti-endomysium antibodies)
- AGA (IgA anti-gliadin antibodies)
- AGG (IgG anti-gliadin antibodies)
- tTGA (IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase)
If one or more of these tests come back positive for malabsorption, a biopsy may be ordered to further confirm the disease. A biopsy entails taking small pieces of tissue from the villi to look for damage. All of this helps a physician make a correct diagnosis of the disease.
Other tests may be ordered in addition to the above, including stool testing, vitamin D levels, and others. These will be ordered based on signs and symptoms presented.
Treatment of Celiac Disease
A child that suffers from celiac disease must follow a gluten-free diet for the rest of his life. This is the only way for the villi to heal and stay healed. A gluten-free diet means you must avoid all foods, drinks, and medications that contain any wheat, rye, barley, or oats. Food labels must be read very carefully so to avoid any types of these grains. Wheat and barley are especially abundant in our diet, thus making this is a difficult diet to keep. However, with planning and education it can be done.
There are vitamins and minerals that can also be prescribed to help with the nutritional deficiencies that are often present with the disease. Many times, it is difficult to get a child to take these supplements. There are several forms of these available, such as in liquid form, that can be added to certain foods.
A child with this disease is very likely to feel angry for having this disease and not being able to eat as all the other kids. If there is depression involved, please seek counseling as well. There are also several online support groups that can provide tips for managing the disease.
There is no way to prevent developing this disease. The only issue is to have it diagnosed quickly, so that the change in diet can begin immediately. A child will need plenty of support, especially in the initial stage of diagnosis.
Note: This article is not intended to be medical advice. Always contact your child's pediatrician for proper diagnosis, treatment, and care of your child.
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