4 replies to this topic

[admin]

Family adjusts habits after celiac diagnosis Napa Valley Register For celiac sufferers, the damage gluten causes to the small intestine makes it hard for the body to absorb nutrients. The resulting malnutrition can lead to a wide variety of symptoms and conditions — including gastrointestinal issues, osteoporosis ...

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[Takala]

When Gianna was almost two years old, she began experiencing bad stomach aches and other gastrointestinal problems. Doctors were baffled — until she was diagnosed with a severe gluten allergy.

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Gianna’s diagnosis came shortly after Lintz discovered that she herself had celiac disease, a condition that harms the small intestine as a reaction to eating gluten.


Lintz’s daughter, Gianna, does not have celiac disease but she will probably get the condition at some point in her life. To help delay the development of celiac, Lintz said Gianna has a “99 percent” gluten-free diet. Once or twice a week she’s allowed to have a couple Goldfish crackers, but she can’t have a full serving, Lintz said.

and from the comments, there is this "Jennifer Iscol" President of the Celiac Community Foundation of Northern CA, saying:

Thanks again for contributing to public understanding of a serious autoimmune condition that can be triggered in people of any age, from infants to seniors, by a combination of genes and environment. The treatment for celiac disease is often confused with a fad gluten-free diet. It's important to get the blood test for celiac disease BEFORE going on a gluten-free diet because the tests rely on the body's reaction to longterm consumption of gluten.

While Ms. Iscol is busy being the resident Celiac expert here, she never corrects the article's mistake in calling the child Gianna's condition a severe gluten allergy.

If this was a severe allergy, then the parent continuing to feed the child a small amount of the allergen, aka the goldfish crackers, would be tempting fate of a fatal allergic response, and would even be considered negligent.

I should know, I have relatives with severe allergies, I have allergies somewhat less, and parents of children with them JUST DO NOT DO THIS. Instead, they carry emergency medication or have the kid carry it with them at all times, to guard against just this scenario.

Also, by ignoring the treatment for gluten intolerance, like celiac is, indeed, a gluten free diet, and having the article's mistakes imply that all gluten intolerants with "severe gluten allergies" can cheat just a little, she does a VAST disservice to the cause.

For the article also says:

The doctor, whose wife was a celiac sufferer, suspected Lintz had celiac or a severe gluten allergy.

Again, one of these is not equal to the other. Celiac is not a severe gluten allergy, neither is gluten intolerance. Celiac is an autoimmune disease. Gluten intolerance is not quite classified yet, but in many cases, it acts like one. Celiacs cannot cheat, period, some gluten intolerants seem to be able to have small amounts, some cannot, but people with actual, severe allergies to a food cannot just cheat and not expect severe consequences. Allergies have immediate reactions and can be life threatening, auto immune reactions are slower, have complications, and can kill you with organ failures.

[shadowicewolf]

allergy to me screams hives, throat closings, generally bad things along those lines. Where as an intolerence is more of a tummy troubles, aches, and headaches type of thing I must be the only one to think that way.

[mushroom]

Allergy is EpiPen time. Allergy is making my hubs drive himself to the ER when his throat started closing, because I had never had a driver's license at that point, and having them jab his arm as he was walking in

They are definitely not talking about allergy here, but it does make it sound more dramatic, if... totally WRONG

[kittty]

This mother is an idiot.

And while she's giving her kid a handful of Goldfish crackers, why not let her puff on a cigarette too? A little couldn't hurt her, right?