If you or another member of your immediate family suffers from celiac disease, you know and understand that the disease can be passed along genetically. However, what you do not know with any certainty is whether or not your child or children will suffer from celiac disease throughout their life. Before you panic and assume the worst, get to know some of the signs and symptoms of pediatric celiac disease in children and what you can do to help your child deal with it if they do end up with the disease. This way, you will be able to provide your child with the best possible care. 

What Is Celiac Disease?

Even if you know that celiac disease runs in the family, you may not fully understand what the disorder entails. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. Symptoms occur when the affected person consumes gluten, a common food substance that all celiacs are allergic to. 

Gluten is a type of protein that enters the body through wheat, rye, barley, or products made from their derivatives. When a person who suffers from celiac disease consumes gluten, the gluten damages the inner lining of the small intestines and can cause other irritation and symptoms in the process. Left undiagnosed and untreated, a celiac who continues to consume gluten could suffer catastrophic damage to the intestines and could even die from damage to the digestive system along with related complications. 

What Are The Symptoms Of Pediatric Celiac Disease?

Symptoms of celiac disease can occur at any time in a child's (or even an adult's) life, from infancy and beyond. Just because your child does not exhibit signs of celiac disease at an early age does not mean that they do not have the disease. Symptoms may appear later in childhood or well into adulthood.

In infants, signs and symptoms of celiac disease include a lack of weight gain or growth, known as a failure to thrive. They may also experience diarrhea, skin rashes, irritability, or mouth sores. An infant often will begin to show signs of celiac when solid food is first introduced. However, if you consume gluten in your diet and breast feed a celiac infant, they may show symptoms early on. 

Later in childhood, children with celiac may suffer from stomach pains, diarrhea, chronic constipation, abdominal bloating and, of course, failure to grow and/or gain weight. Children suffering from celiac disease will likely also appear unusually fatigued and lethargic much of the time. 

How Can You Treat Pediatric Celiac Disease?

If you suspect your child is suffering from celiac disease, the first step is to take them to a pediatrician for proper diagnosis. The first and most important step in celiac disease treatment is to eliminate any foods containing gluten from your child's diet. This can be confusing and challenging as many products that contain gluten do not specifically say so. However, many products specifically marked gluten free are readily available at major supermarkets and health food stores. 

You will also need to begin educating your child at an early age about their gluten allergy, and teach them to read labels and ask questions before they eat any food offered to them by friends or even in their school cafeteria. Avoidance is key in treating celiac disease. However, if your child has already been exposed to a substantial amount of gluten in their diet, they may suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies and require supplements or medications prescribed by a doctor to get their nutrition back on track. 

Celiac disease is a manageable condition that, once diagnosed, can be easily dealt with by you and your child. All you need to do is know what symptoms to look out for and how to help your child cope with celiac going forward.