10 tips from the AEP for celiacs by surprise
The Celiac Disease has experienced an important growth in recent years and the most important reason is that it was not diagnosed and many people were unaware of the origin of their illnesses. However, today there 20,000 celiac children diagnosed in Spain and has gone from being a complete stranger to being part of today.
Few are the families that have not heard of the gluten before the incorporation of this cereal to the babies' diet and although we have more and more information, many doubts arise at the moment of the diagnosis of gluten intolerance.
To answer the questions that are usually asked in the pediatrician's office, the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP), through its website EnFamilia, has made available to parents and guardians a complete special on celiac disease where they can resolve their doubts and Find all the updated information about celiac disease.
10 answers from the AEP for celiacs by surprise
The diagnosis of gluten intolerance is usually a real surprise for families and generates some anxiety about what products contain it, how to buy gluten-free food, where it can be hidden, what restaurants serve food for celiacs ... and in the case of babies, what to do to introduce the glute in the most correct way. Some of the keys to this disease that the AEP includes in this special are:
1. Celiac disease is a digestive intolerance to certain cereals. Specifically to gluten: set of proteins contained in cereals such as wheat, barley, rye or oats.
2. The immune system of celiac people reacts to gluten resulting in inflammation of the intestine.
3. Celiac disease is not hereditary, but there is a genetic predisposition to suffer it. Therefore, it is more common in families where there is already a case.
4. The advised age to introduce gluten in the complementary diet of babies is around six months of age.
5. Some frequent symptoms What can make suspect this disease are:
to. In young children, the most classic is prolonged or intermittent diarrhea, swollen belly, loss of appetite and weight, sad or irritable mood and malnutrition.
b. Older children and adults They often have less and milder manifestations, such as lack of iron, loss of appetite, short stature, abdominal pain, mouth sores or joint pains. The skin called dermatitis herpetiformis is very characteristic.
6. Diagnosis of the disease It is performed through a blood test that includes the detection of the antibodies specific to celiac disease, followed by an intestinal biopsy. In certain cases it is not necessary to perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
7. When a celiac is diagnosed within a family It is advisable to study also the rest of the close members since it is frequent that there is someone else with the disease.
8. Celiac disease has no cure. The only effective treatment is to maintain a gluten-free diet throughout life. Adequate nutrition, that is, a gluten-free diet, makes the symptoms of the disease disappear and reduces the risk of other related autoimmune problems such as diabetes, thyroiditis or nutritional disorders such as anemia or osteoporosis and some types of cancer.
9. Food contamination with gluten can activate the disease in celiacs. It is necessary to be very careful when preparing food for a person with this condition. It is necessary to use different containers and spaces that separate the food that the celiac child will consume.
10. Before the appearance of the first symptoms, or the suspicion that the child may be a celiac, it is recommended to go to the pediatrician to resolve any questions and address the effects of the disease.
Vanessa Barrio
Advice: Spanish Association of Pediatrics AEP In family
