Doctors In Michigan

[melissa1236]

Ok, my daughters regular pedatric dr. just told me to avoid wheat when she had a reaction to wheat. I took it upon my self to read up on things, and went back to a gluten free diet. I recently took my daughter to an allergist to test her for all allergies since she had another trip to the hospital do to egg allergy. Well I asked the allergist if it was possible that she could have celiac disease and he stated that my daughter is to healthy and growing to well. The thing is she has never really had a diet with gluten in it. After her first reaction to wheat I went back to a diet with just veggies, meat , rice. I guess what I need help with is does anyone know if they test children this young(13 months old) and if so where are the doctors in michigan who specialize in celiac disease.

[Guest Doll]

Ok, my daughters regular pedatric dr. just told me to avoid wheat when she had a reaction to wheat. I took it upon my self to read up on things, and went back to a gluten free diet. I recently took my daughter to an allergist to test her for all allergies since she had another trip to the hospital do to egg allergy. Well I asked the allergist if it was possible that she could have celiac disease and he stated that my daughter is to healthy and growing to well. The thing is she has never really had a diet with gluten in it. After her first reaction to wheat I went back to a diet with just veggies, meat , rice. I guess what I need help with is does anyone know if they test children this young(13 months old) and if so where are the doctors in michigan who specialize in celiac disease.

Contrary to popular belief, Celiac Disease is not an allergy or directly related to IgE allergies (although some people have both, including me), it is an autoimmune disease. A gluten allergy (IgE mediated) is different from Celiac Disease. Also, a wheat allergy is not necessarily a gluten allergy. Your daughter may react to wheat gluten but not barley. Was your daughter tested for allergies to other gluten containing grains like oats and barley? Did she react? The testing for Celiac Disease tests for IgE/IgA antibodies and intestinal damage.

If you are concerned that she has Celiac, you can ask to have her screened by a pediatric GI specialist who is familiar with Celiac (most doctors are not). Her allergist can check her for allergies to barley, oats, rye, etc. That said, a lot of small children grow out of their allergies, and the tests for Celiac are often not accurate in young children.

Either way, a gluten-free diet certainly won't hurt her, although you really shouldn't cut out oats and other whole grains if she is *not* allergic to them and does *not* have Celiac. These foods may help prevent Type 2 diabetes (the preventable kind related to obesity that is becoming an epidemic) as she gets older.

This is really a tough call, but I think a screening for antibodies with a good Ped. GI is a good start (although do be aware there may be a false negative in a very young child). Ask your family doctor for a referal or call a University Hosptial or local Children's Hospital. There is no harm if she is growing normally to keep her on a gluten-free diet, but again, you don't want to restrict a growing child with allergies any more than you have to, IMHO.

[StrongerToday]

Where are you in Michigan? There are several support groups (tri-county, ann arbor, lansing) that would have recommendations for you. If you're on the western side of the state, Chicago has a great center at the U of Chicago.

[melissa1236]

Contrary to popular belief, Celiac Disease is not an allergy or directly related to IgE allergies (although some people have both, including me), it is an autoimmune disease. A gluten allergy (IgE mediated) is different from Celiac Disease. Also, a wheat allergy is not necessarily a gluten allergy. Your daughter may react to wheat gluten but not barley. Was your daughter tested for allergies to other gluten containing grains like oats and barley? Did she react? The testing for Celiac Disease tests for IgE/IgA antibodies and intestinal damage.

If you are concerned that she has Celiac, you can ask to have her screened by a pediatric GI specialist who is familiar with Celiac (most doctors are not). Her allergist can check her for allergies to barley, oats, rye, etc. That said, a lot of small children grow out of their allergies, and the tests for Celiac are often not accurate in young children.

Either way, a gluten-free diet certainly won't hurt her, although you really shouldn't cut out oats and other whole grains if she is *not* allergic to them and does *not* have Celiac. These foods may help prevent Type 2 diabetes (the preventable kind related to obesity that is becoming an epidemic) as she gets older.

This is really a tough call, but I think a screening for antibodies with a good Ped. GI is a good start (although do be aware there may be a false negative in a very young child). Ask your family doctor for a referal or call a University Hosptial or local Children's Hospital. There is no harm if she is growing normally to keep her on a gluten-free diet, but again, you don't want to restrict a growing child with allergies any more than you have to, IMHO.

I did have her tested for wheat , barley , rye, oats, eggs, she had an allergy to all, I asked for a test to determine if it was gluten and a blood test was given and she is allegric to gluten.

Still not sure if it was Celiac Disease so just thought I would ask to see what other people thought.

Thanks so much...

[mandasmom]

I did have her tested for wheat , barley , rye, oats, eggs, she had an allergy to all, I asked for a test to determine if it was gluten and a blood test was given and she is allegric to gluten.

Still not sure if it was Celiac Disease so just thought I would ask to see what other people thought.

Thanks so much...

She should def have a clear diagnosis--its just not safe to assume that allergy and cleiac diesase are one in the same---they simply are not. In order to insure her ongoing good health she should be "officially" and acurately diagnosed. The tricounty gluten intolerance group can likely suggest an MD....and of course Childrens Hopital in Detroit and Mott childrens Hop in Ann Arbor both have specialty clinics of all types. Good luck

[mommida]

My daughter was tested by Hernando Lyons, Pediatric Gastroenterologist. He is at St. John's hospital which is on the border of Grosse Pointe and Detroit. He also has a satellite office in Macomb County near the M59 corridor on Romeo Plank Road (if I remember that right).

If you are going for further testing your child will have to consume gluten for enough damage to elevate the tests. Genetic testing can be a gluten free option, but is not fully covered by most insurance carriers. Dr. Lyons would only diagnose my daughter as probable Celiac disease with elevated blood work and two celiac genes, because we refused to do the endoscopy with biopsy - due to the fact she was being hospitalized for dehydration during the gluten challenge.

Test results in patients under 24 months is not very reliable.

If you are closer to Beaumont hospital in

Royal Oak that would be a great place to look for a pediatric Gastro.