Allergy Vs. Cd

[Guest katerismom]

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to explain the difference between an allergy to wheat and celiac disease? I am having a hard time explaining it to family members. They tack it up to "just and allergy" or "maybe she will out grow it". My daughter (20 mos.) was diagnosed 6 mos. ago and is doing great on the diet, but some family members think that a little bit won't hurt her, and that I am a fanatic about checking labels. Thanks for your help.

[tarnalberry]

An allergy is an immune response involving the IgE class of antibodies. An intolerance such as this one is an immune response involving the IgG class of antibodies. In the case of celiac disease particularly, the IgG (and IgA) immune response damages the body itself (hence it being an autoimmune disease). This is not generally true of allergies.

(Perhaps it would help your family to remind them that the issue is the celiac is not strictly speaking _just_ a food intolerance - it's caused by one, but it is also an autoimmune disease.)

[KaitiUSA]

Well explained Tiffany.

I also know how it is to have family members take it lightly. What I did was email them all something on celiac explaining it to all of them...some still don't get it but thats not my fault. I will always be putting my health first. Many people on here have family members who just don't get it..my parents are great with it but my extended family is not...they always joke about celiac. It is frustrating and you wish you could just shove it into their brain sometimes but unfortunately we can't...we can just hope they realize the importance of it sometime.

Try telling them it is a genetic autoimmune disease and if she doesn't follow it she could end up with cancer,diabetes, or other serious things....tell them it is lifelong and if she has just a little bit her intestines will be damaged. If that doesn't work as them to try some rat poison and see what they say...then tell them gluten to her is like rat poison to them...would you eat a little bit?