Celiac Disease In Children
Celiac disease is a hypersensitivity to gluten. Also called celiac sprue, nontroptical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy, celiac disease is characterized by an extreme immune system response to the consumption of gluten. The immune system reacts by attacking the cells of the small intestines.
This condition is often diagnosed in infancy and childhood, but may not be evident until later in life. The most common symptom of celiac disease in children is irritability. Other common symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Before the infant begins to eat food containing gluten, and it than with celiac disease may have normal digestion and growth. As foods containing gluten are added to the infant’s diet, the infant with celiac disease may experience diarrhea, projectile vomiting, a distended abdomen, irritability, poor weight gain, and poor growth.
Children with celiac disease may have poor appetite and poor growth. The symptoms of celiac disease may temporarily subside during adolescence and become problematic again in early adulthood.
There is no cure for celiac disease. Following a gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for celiac disease. It is often easier if the entire family goes on a gluten-free diet if a child is diagnosed with celiac disease. This prevents foods from having to be considered off limits to one child and removes temptation for the child.
Some parents of children with celiac disease experience anxiety about the child attending school. While attending school, the child is likely to come in contact with food that contains gluten in the school cafeteria and perhaps during student birthday celebrations or snack time.
The parents should discuss the child’s need for a gluten-free diet and the diagnosis of celiac disease with the school nurse, dietitian, and the child’s teacher. Some parents often find it helpful to discuss the child’s needs with the principal. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), schools must provide children with celiac disease gluten-free food.
Following a gluten-free diet throughout the child’s lifetime is imperative for limiting the damage to the small intestines. Foods that contain rye, wheat, or barley contain gluten. Other foods not associated with these grains may also contain gluten.
Parents of children with celiac disease need to educate the children on how to identify foods that contain gluten. Parents will need to show the child how to follow a gluten-free diet and how to read food labels to determine which foods contain gluten. Gradually, the parents may give more responsibility to the child to follow a gluten-free diet.
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