The Baby Mum-Mum Blog

Understanding Celiac Disease

Posted on 10.23.2007

By Colleen Hurley, Registered Child Nutritionist
 
Celi-what?
Celiac disease can strike as early as your baby’s first bite of solids or as late as middle adulthood. What exactly is celiac disease? Celiac (also known as celiac sprue, gluten sensitivity, or gluten intolerance) is a digestive disease that interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food due to damage in the small intestine. What sort of culprit can wreak such havoc on the intestines? Gluten. Gluten is a protein found mainly in wheat but can also be found in barely and rye. Oats are by nature gluten-free, however, many suppliers process oats in plants with gluten containing foods, therefore they remain on the “foods to avoid” list. Celiac disease is actually an immune system disorder. Gluten causes a “red alert” in a person with celiac and the immune system responds to the alert by destroying tiny, fingerlike extensions in the small intestines known as villi. What is so important about villi? Villi are responsible for taking all the nutrients out of the foods we eat and making sure they get into the bloodstream. Without villi you can become malnourished no matter how much food you eat. The cause of celiac is mainly genetic; meaning it runs in the family. Celiac disease can, however, be triggered by certain situations such as severe emotional stress, surgery, viral infections, pregnancy, or childbirth.
 
How will I know if my child has celiac?
Explaining celiac disease is far easier than diagnosing it. Many years ago celiac disease was considered rare, ever rarer in children. It is now estimated that 1 in every 133 people has celiac but only 1 in every 2,500 actually get diagnosed. Celiac disease in children can be very difficult to pinpoint because the symptoms mirror many other common ailments. Also- no 2 celiac children have exactly the same symptoms. Some common symptoms include:
Some children and infants may develop several of these symptoms over a long period of time. Others, particularly infants, may develop some of these symptoms within 2 weeks of trying food that contains gluten for the first time. Weight loss or failure to grow are the most common signs of celiac disease in infants. If you are concerned or suspect your child may have celiac, consult your pediatrician right away. Your pediatrician will take a detailed medical history of your child and perform a physical exam. If celiac disease is suspected, your pediatrician may run a blood test, however, even blood tests are not 100% accurate. The best method available for identifying celiac today is performing a biopsy of the small intestines. 
 
What can I do to treat celiac?
The treatment of celiac is a strict gluten-free diet. The good news is that symptoms will disappear and the body will actually heal itself by following a gluten-free diet. By simply removing gluten, intestinal villi have been shown to heal in as little as 3 days. People with celiac, however, must be on a gluten-free diet for life. Often times, doctors may suggest going on a gluten-free diet as a means of diagnosis in order to avoid blood tests or biopsies. If symptoms clear up, it is assumed the person has celiac or another form of food intolerance and a “better safe than sorry” approach is adopted. Your doctor will probably refer your child to a registered dietitian who specializes in gluten-free diets to help you and your child gain a better understanding of the foods that can and cannot be eaten. The Celiac Disease Foundation at www.celiac.org is an excellent resource for celiacs.
 
An ounce of prevention
Although genetics play a large role in celiac disease, as a parent you can take some preventative measures. Pediatricians recommend avoiding gluten-containing foods for the first 6-8 months of life. Some pediatricians even suggest waiting until after your baby’s first birthday to introduce gluten. The good news is there are plenty of delicious naturally gluten-free foods to eat! Check out our gluten-free baby products on this website for more information. You can also view our blog post on “Starting your baby on solid food: tips and tricks” for ways to avoid food allergies in your child.