8 Common Celiac Disease Symptoms in Children

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OVERVIEW:

Celiac disease is an immune reaction to gluten that damages the lining of the small intestine and causes various celiac disease symptoms in children. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

Oats don't contain gluten themselves, but they are often contaminated with it, so ask your child's doctor or dietitian before including them. Rice and corn are naturally gluten free and don't need to be stopped.

Celiac disease runs in families. It almost always occurs in people with certain gene variants (HLA-DQ2 or DQ8), and gluten in the diet is the trigger, according to the NIDDK overview of celiac disease causes. Other factors, such as early-life infections, are still being studied.

What Causes Celiac Disease Symptoms In Children?

Gliadin is a part of the gluten in wheat. In children with celiac disease, the immune system reacts to gliadin and damages the small intestine.

Blood tests often show raised IgA antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and endomysium. Doctors use these antibodies to screen for the disease.

The villi, which are finger-like projections that absorb nutrients, become blunted or flat. The crypts between them enlarge, immune cells collect in the lining, and levels of digestive enzymes on the intestinal surface drop. As a result, the gut can't absorb nutrients well.

CELIAC DISEASE SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

Clinical features of celiac disease vary considerably. Classic symptoms often appear in young children after foods containing gluten are introduced into the diet.

Celiac disease in children can begin at any age. Doctors consider it in any child with chronic diarrhea, a swollen belly, bloating, gas, vomiting or poor weight gain (failure to thrive).

Digestive symptoms are more common in children than in adults. They happen because damage to the intestinal lining reduces the gut's ability to absorb food.

Common symptoms include diarrhea, foul-smelling stools, constipation, vomiting and a swollen belly. A child may lose their appetite and lose weight or fail to gain weight.

Rarely, straining or chronic diarrhea can lead to rectal prolapse. Ongoing digestive symptoms and poor growth should always be checked by a pediatrician.

Poor absorption of calcium and vitamin D can affect the bones and teeth. Celiac disease in children can lead to low bone density, rickets in severe cases, later osteoporosis risk, and defects or discoloration of tooth enamel.

Children with untreated celiac disease may lose muscle mass. This muscle wasting happens because protein, calories and other nutrients are not absorbed properly.

Celiac disease can affect the nervous system, partly through vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin B12. Children may be irritable or fussy, and some people develop headaches, numbness or tingling, or balance problems.

Seizures and other nerve problems have been linked with celiac disease, but they are uncommon. Any child with seizures needs evaluation and treatment by a doctor.

Poor absorption of nutrients can slow growth. Celiac disease symptoms in children can include short stature and delayed puberty, as noted in MedlinePlus's celiac disease guide.

Low calcium and vitamin D levels can also raise parathyroid hormone levels (secondary hyperparathyroidism).

The best-known skin sign is dermatitis herpetiformis, an itchy, blistering rash on the elbows, knees, buttocks, back or scalp. It affects about 2 to 3 percent of children with untreated celiac disease.

Celiac disease has also been linked with other immune-related skin conditions, such as alopecia areata (patchy hair loss).

Lung problems are rare in celiac disease. In very rare cases, it has been linked to a lung bleeding disorder called idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis.

A child with breathing trouble, coughing up blood or unexplained anemia needs prompt medical care.

8- Symptoms To Blood And Vascular System:

Iron is absorbed in the upper small intestine. When the villi are damaged, iron isn't absorbed properly from food, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia.

A child with anemia may look pale, feel tired and irritable, or get dizzy. Low folate and vitamin B12 can also contribute to anemia.

HP Thoughts: Children are easily attacked by viruses, bacteria, and germs that cause physical discomfort and emotional trauma. Rickets in kids is one that severely affects their bones. Learn more about it: Rickets in Children.

CONCLUSION:

Many children with celiac disease have mild or no obvious symptoms. Others have diarrhea, a swollen belly, poor weight gain or slow growth.

Some children have "silent" celiac disease: no symptoms, but intestinal damage on biopsy. This is often found when a close relative is diagnosed and family members are screened.

Don't remove gluten from your child's diet before testing, because it can make the tests inaccurate. Once a doctor confirms the diagnosis, a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet lets the intestine heal and prevents complications.