What Are The Chances My Baby Could Have Celiac

[kali-mist]

I'm really curious to know what the chances are the my baby will have or develop Celiac. Does anyone know? I would also like to know how long do I have to wait before I can get my baby tested. I would like to keep him/her away from gluten for awhile just in case but then I would have to give them a steady diet of gluten to get them tested right?

[Lisa]

Julie,

I think the risk of inherited Celiac is around 20%.

Accurate testing in children is highly unreliable. There are many threads here about breastfeeding and when to introduce gluten. Try a search.

And, congratulations.

[JulesH]

  Momma Goose said:

Accurate testing in children is highly unreliable.

Can you tell me more about this, or where I can find information about this? I suspect my nephew has celiac, but the blood test was negative so my sister-in-law says he doesn't. (This is despite the fact that my brother, her husband, had a negative blood test but CLEARLY has celiac, and is gluten-free.)

[MDRB]

I can understand your desire to keep your child gluten free.

Unfortunately, celiac disease can't be detected if there is no damage to the villi. You can keep them off gluten and never really be sure if they actuallly are celiac, or you can give them gluten and wait to see if they get sick. It sounds horrible I know.

The other option you have is to get genetic tests done. They would not show if your child definetly has celiac disease as approximately a third of the population has the correct genes but never actually develop celiac disease, but if your child doesn't have the specific genes (I think there are three that imply that a person could get celiac disease, if you only have one or two then celiac disease is out of the question), it would rule out celiac disease 100%.

Its a really tough decision. I guess if it was me, I would keep them gluten free until they were old enough to make an informed decision.

Good luck

[B'sgirl]

In the forum for parents of kids with Celiac they were talking about this. There is lots of research about when to introduce gluten. Most says no earlier than 4 months and no later than 7, unless you wait until they are a year old. Also, if you breastfeed for the first year their chances of developing the disease are much less. My plan is to wait until my baby is at least a year old. If the immune and digestive systems are not fully developed it can cause more sensitivity. I can have her tested after I put her on it, there is no rush, and since my son is already on a gluten-free diet it won't be difficult for me to keep her on one. I had too much trouble with him as a baby to want to do the same thing to my new one, so I am waiting to introduce it.

[par18]

  Michelle RB said:

I can understand your desire to keep your child gluten free.

Unfortunately, celiac disease can't be detected if there is no damage to the villi. You can keep them off gluten and never really be sure if they actuallly are celiac, or you can give them gluten and wait to see if they get sick. It sounds horrible I know.

The other option you have is to get genetic tests done. They would not show if your child definetly has celiac disease as approximately a third of the population has the correct genes but never actually develop celiac disease, but if your child doesn't have the specific genes (I think there are three that imply that a person could get celiac disease, if you only have one or two then celiac disease is out of the question), it would rule out celiac disease 100%.

Its a really tough decision. I guess if it was me, I would keep them gluten free until they were old enough to make an informed decision.

Good luck

Not quite sure what you mean when you say "if you only have one or two of them". Basically there are two genes (DQ2 or DQ8) in which the majority of those with Celiac possess either one or perhaps both. I have only one (DQ2) and I was diagnosed via biopsy. According to the statement on my blood test "greater than 95% of all persons with Celiac have either or both of these genes. By not being 100% I assume this means one may develop this condition with neither. Someone please correct me if this is wrong.

Tom

[jhow32000]

I think PPs info is right---except Michelle RB. The tests for diagnosis are so unreliable at times and the symptoms of celiac disease can be so painful that I would never put my child through gluten trials when he could easily stay gluten-free. I can easily see when my child gets contaminated foods as he gets very gassy, diarrhea, and a belly ache with rash. I personally suspect celiac disease from both sides in my family and on both sides for my son. I have kept him gluten-free right along with me and he has never been sick in the 19 months of his life. It is much simpler than messing with gluten. However, I have more incentive to keep him grain free since I am of the group that believes unsprouted grains have anti-nutrient properties and should not be consumed regularly by anyone.