What is pediatric celiac disease?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 5-year-old daughter has been having frequent stomach aches and diarrhea over the past few months. A friend mentioned that these could be signs of celiac disease in children. When should kids get screened for celiac disease? What does the screening process involve? I am wondering if we should get my daughter tested to see if she has a gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Can you provide some guidance on pediatric celiac screening?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I understand your concern.

Children should be tested for celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine) if they show symptoms suggestive of the condition, such as:

1. Chronic diarrhea.

2. Stomach pain.

3. Weight loss or failure to thrive.

4. Fatigue.

5. Additionally, screening is recommended for children who have a first-degree relative with celiac disease, even if they do not show symptoms, due to the genetic component of the disease.

Screening process:

Blood Tests: The initial screening for celiac disease involves serologic blood tests that look for antibodies typically present in people with celiac disease. The most common test is the tissue transglutaminase IgA test (tTG-IgA). For accurate results, it is important that the child continues to eat a normal diet containing gluten prior to testing.
Intestinal Biopsy: If blood tests suggest celiac disease, an intestinal biopsy usually confirms the definitive diagnosis. This involves taking a small tissue sample from the small intestine to look for damage characteristic of celiac disease.
Dietary Response: In some cases, doctors might consider a child's response to a gluten-free diet as part of the diagnostic process, especially if other tests are inconclusive.

Given your symptom complex, I would suggest to get the child evaluated physically by a pediatrician for constipation as well.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

I hope this helps.

Regards.

Thank you.