Are Recurrent Viruses Something To Worry About?

[floridanative]

I have not seen medical evidence that kids who get tons of viruses could have Celiac but I just found out that my neice is about to be pulled from 4K school due to too many sick days. She catches every virus she's exposed to. Her own toddler brother doesn't even catch them all from her that he's exposed to. My sister is seeing the ped. next week to tell him she wants some answers as to what's wrong with my niece. He has told her that kids that get out of the home for the first year just get sick since they are exposed to germs for the first time. That would be fine except other non daycare kids in the same class do not get sick anywhere near as much as my niece. It's their first year of germs so why aren't they also getting sick all the time.

Would it make sense that someone with a compromised immune system catches more viruses than others and Celiac is an autoimmune disease so that could be the culprit? I'd like my sister to be armed with any and all info I can find for her to take in to the doctor next week. Does anyone know anything that can help us. Thanks in advance if you can share anything at all.

[marciab]

My daughter is 18 and has gone through this her whole life. She has seen a rhuematologist and allergist / immunologist several times and been tested for Lupus, etc. But, they have never found anything conclusive other than a positive ANA and multiple allergies.

If I had to do it over again I would ask them to run the celiac panel on her while they were running all that other lab work. What harm can it do ?

We were always able to get doctors excuses for her school absences. She missed a lot of school over the years. Doctor excused absences are not considered absences in Florida.

Just my experience. Good luck ... Marcia

[floridanative]

Thanks marciab. I agree it can't hurt and thanks for telling me about the FL status of dr. excused school absences. I don't know if my sister is aware of that but I'm guessing she's not. I appreciate your reply so much.

[mommida]

It sounds like you might want to do some more research on leaky gut too.

Well I am one of the people that should not exist because I've had chicken pox twice. Not shingles, chicken pox. The first time I had chicken pox I was 5 months old, and had a mild case but still have 2 scars. The second time I was 23.

There are people in the world who have recurrent viral infections, but save the child from a lot of misery and test her for Celiac.

Laura

[corinne]

Interesting - I had the chicken pox when I was 7 and when I was 23! The second time was one week before I started grad school. Aaarrghhh.

[Guest nini]

Tiffany, your neice sounds so much like me as a kid... I was sick ALL the time.

I worry about my neice and nephew too... they get sick an awful lot, but my sister will not even consider getting them tested. Too much effort I guess.

My recurrent illnesses continued all the way into adult life, up until my dx. I swear, I was in the dr.s office constantly for upper respiratory infections, viral infections and general sickness. My mom always said "your immune system is just weak and always has been" Oh ok, just accept that I'm sickly and not ever do anything about it? NO. You know about my improvement since going gluten-free. Get your sister to get her tested, and explore other food allergies as well.