What Tests I Do Have Done On 1 Year Old?

[TessTess]

Hi!

My baby is about to turn 1, tomorrow we have his appointment. He has had gluten for a month (I am celiac). He has had no visible signs of celiac and enjoying oats and puffed wheat often. For baby one I wanted the genetics test but was told he should be on gluten for a month then get tested for a reaction of the gluten (I can't remember the test names). However this doesn't tell me if he could get celiac in the future.

Anyway, would love to know what others recommend I should or shouldn't get the baby tested for with his 1 year blood work. Are there any resources available I could show his doctor? Their doctor is happy to read extra information etc.

Thanks. Typed with a 2 year old grabbing phone, sorry about mistakes.

[GF Lover]

The tests for children are the same as for adults.  And, your right, if they are negative, you would have to keep testing throughout childhood.   If, however,  you choose to bring him up gluten free, the child would need to eat gluten before testing just like you have.  

 

Colleen 

[StephanieL]

Gluten does not need to be consumed for the GENETIC test.  That can be done at any time.  All the rest need to be while on gluten. It's highly debated how much and for how long.  If the tests are negative, it is recommended they they be retested every 3 years OR if they become symptomatic. 

[Fourmonkeysjumping]

We test our kids yearly.  They have run the celiac panel test on them each year.  We started around a year and a half and have done it every fall since my oldest was little.  Two are positive so far, two are not.  My husband is the Celiac, I am not.  I have allowed kids at home with me to have gluten when my husband was at work and when my oldest was at school, once he tested positive.  We now no longer allow gluten in the house, because the two youngest are at school and will have it there (school provides snack).  If they are going to test positive, that's enough exposure.  Once they go to K and bring their own snacks, we will send them to school with an occasional gluten snack to keep it in their systems to see what happens.  We really wonder how many will eventually have it.  I'm betting 3/4.

[StephanieL]

We now no longer allow gluten in the house, because the two youngest are at school and will have it there (school provides snack).  If they are going to test positive, that's enough exposure.  

 

Can you provide references for this statement?  I have never seen anything concert on how much or for how long.  Standard recommendation I've seen tossed around here is a slice of bread daily for 2-3 months prior to testing.  

 

I'm surprised your insurance covers testing yearly. They usually follow recommendations from the Docs who say every 3 years.

[Fourmonkeysjumping]

I've never heard of insurance companies refusing to pay, but this is my first time on a celiac board. Mine has never questioned it, so I assumed it was typical. My husbands gastro recommended we do this and our ped and pediatric gastro have agreed, so this is just how we have always done it. We have always had them eat gluten until they test positive, because out feeling is it keeps it in their systems which would trigger the response. Again, this isn't anything we've read it's just what we were recommended so we've done it this way. I have no reason to purposely keep my non celiac kids gluten-free, so if they have gluten at school or other places, I'm fine with it. Tey don't have it in our house. We waited over a year for our first two and then introduced the second two just prior to six months, based on new information we had read. Wee shall see if that changes anything. I don't believe it will. I honesty believe if you are going to get it, you're going to get it. My husband feels huge guilt about this, but it is what it is. It could be so much worse.