More than three million Americans suffer with an autoimmune disorder known as Celiac Disease. Have you noticed your toddler complaining of a stomach ache much too often? Maybe your little one is just not gaining weight as you would like or expect! Is your child having too many or too few bowel movements?
Schedule an appointment and discuss with your toddler’s pediatrician the possibility of Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is a very common disorder. However, ninety seven percent of cases go undiagnosed. Most people with this disorder suffer with symptoms for a good eleven to twelve years before being diagnosed.
Celiac Disease causes the body to encounter trouble when attempting to absorb nutrients from food. Toddlers with the disease cannot tolerate a protein known as gluten. Gluten is found in food products containing wheat, rye and barley. Gluten, when not tolerated by the body, reacts as a poison to the system. Toddlers with Celiac Disease experience a wide range of physical ailments classic to early childhood.
Toddlers With Celiac Disease: Symptoms
When your toddler begins to complain of symptoms such as stomach aches, cramping when drinking milk or milk based products, constipation, are seen as not thriving as determined to be normal for their age range, are inattentive or exhibit signs of learning disabilities its time to be concerned. Keep a journal of the foods your child eats, reactions when certain foods are consumed, any problems your child demonstrates after consuming certain categories or types of foods or any distinct reactions or changes in their personality. When visiting your child’s pediatrician, this journal will be beneficial.
Toddlers With Celiac Disease: Diagnosis
Your child’s pediatrician will most likely require a blood test when symptoms are discussed. The test will be performed to look for specific antibodies the body produces when battling this disease. If the antibodies suspected are found in the specimen, the pediatrician will then request a tissue sample removed from the small intestine. A test is performed on the sample to look for damage to the Villi. Villi are small projections in the intestine vital for digestion and absorption. The pediatrician will slide a small tube through the mouth into the stomach to take the sample.
Toddlers With Celiac Disease: Treatment
If the problems are caused by Celiac Disease, your toddler will be placed on a strict gluten free diet. By following the diet, your toddler should begin to show improvement within a few days. The drawback is that the gluten free diet is a lifelong process. Foods containing gluten are everywhere. Gluten is found in a large number of food products offered in grocery stores. Cereals, breads, processed foods, pasta, grains are just a few. Eating any gluten product can result in more damage to the intestine.
Toddlers With Celiac Disease: Family and Toddler Support
Parents must be comforted in the fact that they are not alone. There are support groups available for all family members. Discuss support groups with the national foundation for Celiac Awareness. Join a support group and find a buddy for your child. Make sure your child understands Celiac Disease will not change their life other than with the exception of the foods they eat. Children experiencing symptoms of Celiac Disease can have a happy, healthy, gluten free life.
Sources:
http://www.toddlerstoday.com/articles/toddler-health/celiac-disease-3630/4/
http://www.baby-medical-questions-and-answers.com/celiac-disease-symptoms.html
Reference:
- info@americanceliac.org
- (703) 622-3331
