Celiac Disease

Call GI Care for Kids in the Greater Atlanta area at (404) 257-0799

Overview

Celiac disease is a common condition occurring in about 1 out of 135 Americans. Although the condition is more common in some ethnic groups, celiac disease can strike anyone. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease; this means that when a person has celiac disease, their immune system reacts to a protein called gluten, which leads to damage to the lining of the intestine.

Many people with celiac disease do not know that they have it because the symptoms can be so varied. Celiac disease is often misdiagnosed or not recognized at all.

More people than ever before are being diagnosed based on a family history of celiac disease. If you have a first-degree family member with celiac disease, your chances of having it are about 1 in 20.

Symptoms

Celiac disease can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from stomach aches, diarrhea, bloating or fullness, poor appetite, slow growth, weight loss, persistent constipation, or absence of puberty. There is an association between celiac disease and conditions such as Type 1diabetes, Down syndrome, IgA deficiency, William’s syndrome, and short stature.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is typically suggested by abnormal blood tests (testing for “antibodies” for celiac disease) that can be difficult to interpret. However, the pediatric gastroenterologists at GI Care for Kids, are experts at knowing when to order a blood test for a suspected case of celiac disease and interpreting the results. Confirmation of the diagnosis is usually achieved after an upper endoscopy with biopsies from the small intestine, where the damage typically occurs.

Treatment

Celiac disease is treated by removing all gluten – a substance found in wheat, rye, barley and (sometimes) oats – from the diet. While a gluten-free diet can be difficult to adhere to, there are a growing number of gluten-free products and options available, including gluten-free pizza dough, breads, pastas, and brownies. At GI Care for Kids, our nutritionists can help you learn how to change your eating habits and still be healthy. You will also need to learn how to read and understand labels on foods.

In addition, Dr. Jeffery Lewis, along with a number of active parents, started the first pediatric support group for celiac disease in Georgia. The Georgia chapter of Raising Our Celiac Kids (ROCK) began in 2004 in our offices –

and we now have more than 300 participating families. The support group also helps run a gluten-free family camp one weekend in the fall as well as a kids-only, gluten-free summer camp. The best part of the chapter is a friendly group of people, parents, and kids, willing to help guide you through the adjustments necessary to live gluten-free.

Potential Complications

Even after being properly diagnosed and starting a gluten-free diet, individuals with celiac disease are at increased risk of additional health complications. This includes a high risk of micronutrient deficiencies and other conditions such as liver abnormalities, thyroid disease, a failure to achieve immunity with vaccines, and more. Your doctor might also prescribe vitamins to make up for nutrients you have not been getting from food.

For these reasons, it is important for any patient with celiac disease to regularly see a gastroenterologist. At GI Care for Kids, our doctors have many decades of cumulative experience in pediatric gastroenterology and are well-versed in monitoring patients with celiac disease for the earliest signs of problems or complications

More Info about Celiac Disease in Children

Helpful information about celiac disease can also be found here:

Celiac.com, offering news and support for a gluten-free lifestyle since 1995
Clinical Guide to Gluten-Related Disorders, a book for sale on Amazon
Camp Weekaneatit, a local chapter of the support group, Raising Our Celiac Kids
Nutrition4kids.com, a resource for parents who want to feed their kids well, regardless of medical challenges or allergies. Subscribe for updates personalized for you and your child.
Wheat-Free, Worry-Free: The Art of Happy, Healthy, Gluten-Free Living, a book for sale on Amazon