9 Month Old With Symtpoms

[jesseisrael]

I have a 9 month old daughter that started showing eerily familiar symptoms of celiac. I suffered from this for 40+ undiagnosed years until I developed liver disease and don't wish to subject her to a life of unsubstantiated symptoms.

We introduced gluten into her diet and in a few weeks she became agitated, vomited, diarrhea, facial rashes, voracious appetite. Took gluten away and the symptoms cleared up almost immediately. Took one more trial run at the gluten to make sure that I wasn't just seeing things that weren't there. She did ok for about one week, then the symptoms returned. I really don't feel like continuing to subject her to gluten just so that she will have a positive blood test. Is the immediate response to a gluten free diet enough anecdotal evidence to support this?

Thanks

[Tallforagirl]

I have a 9 month old daughter that started showing eerily familiar symptoms of celiac. I suffered from this for 40+ undiagnosed years until I developed liver disease and don't wish to subject her to a life of unsubstantiated symptoms.

We introduced gluten into her diet and in a few weeks she became agitated, vomited, diarrhea, facial rashes, voracious appetite. Took gluten away and the symptoms cleared up almost immediately. Took one more trial run at the gluten to make sure that I wasn't just seeing things that weren't there. She did ok for about one week, then the symptoms returned. I really don't feel like continuing to subject her to gluten just so that she will have a positive blood test. Is the immediate response to a gluten free diet enough anecdotal evidence to support this?

Thanks

It's my understanding that the blood tests for antibodies can be quite variable in their accuracy in very young children. A biopsy of the small intestine could be performed and may provide a diagnosis, depending on how long she had been on a gluten-containing diet.

If you haven't already, I'd certainly at least take her to a doctor and get her checked out. You may find the doctor is willing to make a diagnosis based on dietary response and your own medical history, but they may also wish to perform some tests (such as testing a stool sample) to rule out any other problems. Because she has been sick they may want to do a full blood count to make sure her vitamin levels, iron etc are okay.

If you want a definitive diagnosis, but don't want her back on gluten at this stage in her life, there's always the possibility of doing a gluten challenge later in life.

[jesseisrael]

It's my understanding that the blood tests for antibodies can be quite variable in their accuracy in very young children. A biopsy of the small intestine could be performed and may provide a diagnosis, depending on how long she had been on a gluten-containing diet.

If you haven't already, I'd certainly at least take her to a doctor and get her checked out. You may find the doctor is willing to make a diagnosis based on dietary response and your own medical history, but they may also wish to perform some tests (such as testing a stool sample) to rule out any other problems. Because she has been sick they may want to do a full blood count to make sure her vitamin levels, iron etc are okay.

If you want a definitive diagnosis, but don't want her back on gluten at this stage in her life, there's always the possibility of doing a gluten challenge later in life.

[bear6954]

I have a 9 month old daughter that started showing eerily familiar symptoms of celiac. I suffered from this for 40+ undiagnosed years until I developed liver disease and don't wish to subject her to a life of unsubstantiated symptoms.

We introduced gluten into her diet and in a few weeks she became agitated, vomited, diarrhea, facial rashes, voracious appetite. Took gluten away and the symptoms cleared up almost immediately. Took one more trial run at the gluten to make sure that I wasn't just seeing things that weren't there. She did ok for about one week, then the symptoms returned. I really don't feel like continuing to subject her to gluten just so that she will have a positive blood test. Is the immediate response to a gluten free diet enough anecdotal evidence to support this?

Thanks

My son had the same symptoms as you listed when we was just about 2. His blood work was negative at that time. We did a DNA test and he had both sets of DQ2, so he is very positive for celiacs in that manner. We had a biopsy done because he was not growing etc and it was positive also. Once we went gluten free, the vomiting stopped at once and the diarrhea went away in about 2 days. Had I knows about celiac disease before my son got it, I would have done a food test also. I just remember introducing mixed infant cereal to him and it giving him diarreha and figuring his belly was to immature to handle it yet - boy what I have learned since. I would recommend a DNA test, if your Dr and insurance will cover it. At least that way, you know if she has the dna to have it.

[jesseisrael]

My son had the same symptoms as you listed when we was just about 2. His blood work was negative at that time. We did a DNA test and he had both sets of DQ2, so he is very positive for celiacs in that manner. We had a biopsy done because he was not growing etc and it was positive also. Once we went gluten free, the vomiting stopped at once and the diarrhea went away in about 2 days. Had I knows about celiac disease before my son got it, I would have done a food test also. I just remember introducing mixed infant cereal to him and it giving him diarreha and figuring his belly was to immature to handle it yet - boy what I have learned since. I would recommend a DNA test, if your Dr and insurance will cover it. At least that way, you know if she has the dna to have it.

Thanks for the responses. Definitive diagnosis aren't really what I am looking ofr honestly. I am just looking of relief for the poor little kid. My own struggles seemed to start very young in a day when people had no clue at all. Many symtpoms that would have clued someone in but I was labeled as a chronic complainer/hypocondriac. It stands to reason with me that if you remove the allergen and the condition gets better then the allergen must have caused the response. I have been gluten free for only 10 months now and my lifelong symptoms have diminished if not gone away. No more migraines(5 weekly for 25+ years), Bloat gone. Weight is still the same 197 but my waist has gone from 39" at bloat to 31-32 "s. Gastro issues are resolved. Liver enzymes are almost normal. Teeth aren't falling apart as quickly and it goes on and on. I am just trying to help my child avoid the same pitfalls in her life.

[jesseisrael]

It has been about one week since re-dropping the gluten from my daughter's diet and she is much better. Happy, playful, smiling, laughing, no diarrhea, vomiting. It is nice to have the pre-gluten Sophie back