Children with Celiac Disease - Malnutrition Waiting to Happen

A mother of three children recently admitted that she had never heard of a dangerous disease called Celiac disease. Thankfully, her children did not have this disease. If they had had this disease, it could have taken quite a while to diagnose, as she would not have even known what to do or what signs to look for. Parents need to know what it is and how it can affect their children.

Celiac disease affects the small intestine and interferes with nutrient absorption. People with Celiac disease are unable to tolerate gluten. Gluten is protein in wheat, rye, barley. Gluten is found in many foods and medicines and even products such as envelope adhesive. Because the nutrients are unable to absorb, the person becomes malnourished, leading to even more problems. As parents, we need to know the symptoms of Celiac disease, so our children are treated quickly and we can learn proper ways to provide them the nutrients they need.

Symptoms of Celiac disease vary with each person. The most common symptom in children is irritability. But young children are irritable for many types of reasons, so recognition of other symptoms is important. According to National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), other symptoms include; gas, recurring abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, constipation, pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool, weight loss/weight gain, fatigue, unexplained anemia (a low count of red blood cells causing fatigue), bone or joint pain, osteoporosis, osteopenia, behavioral changes, tingling numbness in the legs (from nerve damage), muscle cramps, seizures, delayed growth, failure to thrive in infants, pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthous ulcers, tooth discoloration or loss of enamel, itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.

Unfortunately, the only treatment available for Celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Luckily, if a gluten-free diet is maintained, the damage to the small intestine will heal itself usually within 3-6 months in children. The child must remain on a gluten-free diet for the rest of his or her life to stay healthy.

If left untreated, the person with celiac disease may develop complications like cancer, osteoporosis, anemia, and seizures. It is important to seek a treatment (diet) plan from a certified dietitian and stick with the plan to maintain health in the child.

Celiac disease is hereditary, so family members may want to be tested as well. There are several websites with information on Celiac disease for more information.