Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

1 Year Old Too Young For Endoscopy?

nanderson85

Recommended Posts

nanderson85 Newbie
nanderson85
Posted

Hi There, 

I am new here and my DS just had blood work done and it came back positive for Celiac. My husband's sister as well as his cousin have Celiac so I wasn't surprised when the doctor wanted to check him but I am surprised that it came back positive because he does not have any symptoms, that I can tell/know of. I know he is one so he can't tell me how he feels but he isn't upset after eating and poops fairly normally, despite being a bit constipated after switching to cow's milk. I am really wondering if anyone knows how accurate the blood work is in someone his age and also if anyone else has gone through an endoscopy with a child this age. He has been eating solid good since he was 6 months - so about 8 months now - is it too early to see anything in a scope or could there already be damage? I tried researching online, but I only get more confused reading everything and there isn't too much that relates to children his age. Any advice/thoughts are welcome and appreciated! 

Jgapv0RSMvXvprO5G1rYkXG1nWNcniZL_lg.webp

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Welcome to the board.

 

The tests for celiac disease almost always indicate celiac disease.  The rate of false positives is very low, generally below 5%, and those weak positives (often the tTG IgA) are caused by something else like a serious infection, thyroiditis, diabetes, crohns, colitis, and chronic liver disease.  With a family history of celiac disease and no symptoms indicating other diseases, it is celiac disease.

 

This report (pages 10-12) discusses the various tests as well as  a chart (page 12) on the specificity of the disease - specificity means how often a positive is caused by the specific disease (celiac disease).  As you can see, the tests are pretty specific to celiac disease.  If he had more than one positive test, then celiac disease is pretty much a sure thing.  :(  Open Original Shared Link

 

The scope may show damage in him.  In adults, a celiac only needs to eat gluten in the 2-4 weeks prior to the endoscopy to have measurable damage in a biopsy. As long as your son is still consuming gluten, there is a good chance it will be found. Do ensure that at least 6 samples are taken if you choose to have the procedure done; the intestines have a surface area that is the same as a tennis court so if damage is patchy, it can be easy to miss.  

 

If the scope does come back negative, please remember that the scope misses up to 1 in 5 celiacs.  He has already had positive tests so you know he is a celiac no matter what the tests say.

 

Symptoms of celiac disease can be mild.  I was constipated as soon as solids were introduced into my diet.  I started getting stomachaches when I was school aged - it was nothing debilitating but I did lay down and squirm with the pain.  As the years passed my symptoms became more severe but no one figured it out because I was tall and active with C.  Kudos to you for finding this so early and helping him recover.  You'll be saving him years of pain and poor health.

 

This is an interesting article about the usefulness of watching for symptoms in diagnosing celiac disease in kids. Open Original Shared Link

 

Don't forget to retest his siblings and dad every couple of years for life if they continue to eat gluten, sooner if they show symptoms.  Celiac can manifest at any time in life.

 

Best wishes.

nanderson85 Newbie
nanderson85
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for your reply and insight! I feel fortunate that Celiac is something that has been talked about in our family for a few years now so I am familiar with the basics...I know I still have so much to learn though and that worries me a bit. I want to do what is best and right for my son. I also do feel fortunate that it was caught so early, hopefully avoiding a lot of pain for him. We have an appointment with a GI specialist in early November so hopefully they will be able to give me even more insight. I am sure I will be back again with more questions! Thanks again  :)

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I'm happy to try to help.  :)  Good luck with the GI.  I hope he's a good one and knowledgeable in celiac disease.  Let us know how it goes.

  • 2 weeks later...
calabaza78 Newbie
calabaza78
Posted

Just popping in to say that my daughter was diagnosed via blood tests and EGD biopsy at 1 (technically, 21 months.) The report that was written on her biopsy indicated that the specimens did show intestinal damage characteristic of celiac.  

SMRI Collaborator
SMRI
Posted

As far as procedures go, the endoscope is pretty "easy". It's light sedation, quick procedure and usually they will feel 100% shortly after waking up.  I'd do the scope if your dr says just because I know other people who've had issues with getting accommodations and whatnot in school if they are not "biopsy confirmed" Celiac----why, I don't know.  

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,047
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Anddiana
    Newest Member
    Anddiana
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • tiffanygosci
      Celiac support is hard to find

      By tiffanygosci · Posted

      Hi Cristiana! It's so nice to meet you! Thank you for the kind reply I am glad I live in a time where you can connect with others through the Internet. That is a mercy I am grateful for.
    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed.   Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    • knitty kitty
      Fruits & Veggies

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better.   Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor.  PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12.  Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the production of digestive juices (stomach acids).  This results in foods not being digested thoroughly.  If foods are not digested sufficiently, the vitamins and other nutrients aren't released from the food, and the body cannot absorb them.  This sets up a vicious cycle. Acid reflux and Gerd are actually symptoms of producing too little stomach acid.  Insufficient stomach acid production is seen with Thiamine and Niacin deficiencies.  PPI's like Tecta also block the transporters that pull Thiamine into cells, preventing absorption of thiamine.  Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are difficulty swallowing, gagging, problems with food texture, dysphagia. Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are symptoms of ADHD and anxiety.  Vyvanse also blocks thiamine transporters contributing further to Thiamine deficiency.  Pristiq has been shown to work better if thiamine is supplemented at the same time because thiamine is needed to make serotonin.  Doctors don't recognize anxiety and depression and adult onset ADHD as early symptoms of Thiamine deficiency. Stomach acid is needed to digest Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in fruits and vegetables.  Ascorbic acid left undigested can cause intestinal upsets, anxiety, and heart palpitations.   Yes, a child can be born with nutritional deficiencies if the parents were deficient.  Parents who are thiamine deficient have offspring with fewer thiamine transporters on cell surfaces, making thiamine deficiency easier to develop in the children.  A person can struggle along for years with subclinical vitamin deficiencies.  Been here, done this.  Please consider supplementing with Thiamine in the form TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which helps immensely with dysphagia and neurological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms.  Benfotiamine helps with improving intestinal health.  A B Complex and NeuroMag (a magnesium supplement), and Vitamin D are needed also.
    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1.   There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine.   In Thiamine deficiency, the body burns its stored fat as a source of fuel.  That fat pad between the aorta and digestive system gets used as fuel, too. Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test to look for thiamine deficiency.  Correction of thiamine deficiency can help restore that fat pad.   Best wishes for your recovery!   Interesting Reading: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31089433/#:~:text=Affiliations,tissue and results in SMAS.  
    • trents
      Positive biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      Wow! You're pretty young to have a diagnosis of SMA syndrome. But youth also has its advantages when it comes to healing, without a doubt. You might be surprised to find out how your health improves and how much better you feel once you eliminate gluten from your diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that, when gluten is consumed, triggers an attack on the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestines where all our nutrition is absorbed. It is made up of billions of tiny finger-like projections that create a tremendous surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the person with celiac disease, unchecked gluten consumption generates inflammation that wears down these fingers and, over time, greatly reduces the nutrient absorbing efficiency of the small bowel lining. This can generate a whole host of other nutrient deficiency related medical problems. We also now know that the autoimmune reaction to gluten is not necessarily limited to the lining of the small bowel such that celiac disease can damage other body systems and organs such as the liver and the joints and cause neurological problems.  It can take around two years for the villous lining to completely heal but most people start feeling better well before then. It's also important to realize that celiac disease can cause intolerance to some other foods whose protein structures are similar to gluten. Chief among them are dairy and oats but also eggs, corn and soy. Just keep that in mind.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.