Celiac disease is an immune condition in which the small intestine becomes inflamed in the presence of gluten in the diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. When people with celiac disease eat gluten, it damages the small finger-like projections, called villi, in the small intestine. When the villi are damaged, they cannot absorb nutrients from food. This can cause problems with growth and development. Celiac disease can also cause a wide range of other symptoms.
Although celiac disease is caused from eating gluten, it is not a classic food allergy. It is a lifelong condition. Your child with not outgrow celiac disease. It is important not to confuse it with gluten intolerance. Gluten intolerance is where people may not feel well after eating gluten (cramps, bloating), but there is no injury to the intestine and the immune system is not involved.
Celiac disease is a common condition and often runs in families, but it can be hard to diagnose.
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What are the signs and symptoms of celiac disease?
Symptoms of celiac disease can vary widely. In fact many people may have no symptoms and only be diagnosed indirectly when lab work is abnormal. Some babies can develop symptoms as early as 6 months of age, while other children may have few or no symptoms for many years. Common symptoms in children may include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting (more common in babies and toddlers)
- Abdominal distention (bloating)
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Poor growth
- Weight loss
- Anemia
- Delayed puberty
Please note there are many conditions that have similar symptoms. It’s important to see your child’s doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
What causes celiac disease?
Experts do not know what causes the intestinal immune system to react to gluten and cause celiac disease. They do know that it runs in families and is more common in families with Type 1 diabetes and some types of thyroid disease.
How is celiac disease diagnosed?
The traditional final diagnosis of celiac disease has been through intestinal biopsy done at the time of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This is a very quick and benign procedure. Most often, however, the initial suspicion for celiac disease is when certain screening blood tests have been done and are abnormal. It is important to not stop gluten before seeing the pediatric gastroenterologist as that may make final diagnosis more difficult. A prompt appointment is required so further testing can be done.
How is celiac disease treated?
The only treatment for celiac disease is to avoid eating foods with gluten. A gluten-free diet should relieve the symptoms of celiac disease and allow the intestines to heal. Your child’s doctor or nutritionist can help you learn more about what foods and other products contain gluten, and some tips on how to avoid them.
Because celiac disease is a lifelong illness, your child will need to stay on this diet forever. They will not be able to go back to eating gluten once the symptoms go away.