Celiac disease in children: how to grow without gluten

The gluten intolerance, a component of cereals, is what characterizes celiac disease, a pathology that is usually diagnosed before the third year of life of children, or between 30 and 50 years. Although it is not always hereditary, having relatives with celiac disease multiplies by 10 the chances of suffering from the disease.

Symptoms of celiac disease in young children

The characteristic symptoms in young children suffering from celiac disease are chronic diarrhea, weight loss, apathy or irritability, swollen abdomen and malnutrition. Older children and adults tend to have fewer and milder manifestations, such as lack of iron, loss of appetite, short stature, chronic abdominal pain, constipation, mouth sores, joint pains, dermatitis herpetiformis, tooth enamel alterations, unexplained fractures , neurological manifestations, delayed menarche and irritable bowel.


Before any of these symptoms of celiac disease is important to go to the pediatrician as soon as possible, especially in cases of children with Down syndrome or diabetes.

The diagnosis of gluten intolerance in children

A blood test determines the antibodies specific to celiac disease. If the result is positive or there is no other explanation for the symptoms, a gastroscopy with duodenal biopsy will be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Dr. Barrio, Head of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Service of the Hospital Universitario HM Montepríncipe, states that "in some cases it is possible to obviate the biopsy, when the symptoms are very characteristic, the markers appear very high in two different blood samples and the study of risk genes is positive. " Once the diagnosis was confirmed, the first-level relatives were studied in search of those with risk genes, and in the positive case, the remaining studies were carried out.


How the family should act with a child with celiac disease at home

Once the disease is diagnosed, many parents experience a certain fear and insecurity when they think about definitively eliminating gluten from their children's diet. However, once they have assumed it and begin to implement this measure, "everyone says it has been easier than they thought", says Dr. Barrio.

The fact that a child is a celiac affects to a greater or lesser extent the whole family. The other members should help the affected to understand what the disease consists of and the consequences that it will have throughout his life.

What does it mean to eliminate gluten from the diet?

Eliminating gluten from the diet means not consuming wheat, barley or rye. Some experts also advise to eliminate oats, about which there are certain doubts. In the case of processed foods, it is necessary to ensure that they carry the "gluten-free" label, since the intake of a small amount of this may be enough to reactivate the disease. Despite eliminating these foods, there are many others that can be consumed without danger, such as dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, oil or sugar.


Dr. Barrio insists that "from the diagnosis, you have to educate children to ask if they can take the food that is offered, especially precooked, trinkets, etc. As they grow, they must learn to identify the symbol" without gluten ", to interpret the labels and to always keep in mind that when in doubt it is better not to eat it.

Marisol Nuevo Espín
Advice. Dr. Alfonso Barrio, Head of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Service of the Hospital Universitario HM Montepríncipe.

It may interest you:

- Gluten-free diet for celiac disease

- In the restaurant with a celiac child

- My son is celiac, what do I do?

- Celiac disease and its symptoms

Video: Celiac Disease vs Gluten Intolerance


Interesting Articles

Correct and know how to wait

Correct and know how to wait

Man needs to be corrected. There are things that one does without realizing and others, realizing. An uncorrected person is a person not valued. If we want someone to fail completely as a person, all...

The danger of excess duties for children

The danger of excess duties for children

Each evening upon arriving home after several hours of class, and those corresponding to extracurricular activities, our children face homework. With hardly any time between activities and bath time...