How Old Do Children Have To Be

[sherrylynn]

I understand that it is hard to see positive results in babies and small children.

Just wondered how old do you think a child has to be to be able to get accurate results from a blood test.

My little girl is 5 and when she was 4 I had her tested with a blood test, it was negative. She has Autism and has been constipated every since she was 1 year old. I did try the diet on her for 6 months. But I think my mom had sabatajed the diet trial. She also has a very bloated belly and it only goes down when she is sick and vomiting. Which she get sick very often.

A nurse practitioner for a GI doc said that she is just constipated due to the Autism because that goes with Autism. Personally I think she was an idiot.

I would like to find out if it is not celiac, What Physiological problem causes constipation is Autistic children.

[ravenwoodglass]

In countries that routinely screen they do it at age 4 or 5 and again at puberty. If you think she may have issues after you get her tested again do a good strict trial on the diet. Be firm with the folks that may have sabotaged it before and make it clear if they want to see her without you present they have to adhere to your rules regarding what she can be fed. Do make them aware of things like CC issues or simply make sure that you are the only one feeding her. It might be a good idea to eliminate dairy at the same time at least at first.

[Mari]

There are several online labs that offer genetic testing. I used www.enterolab.com. If she does not have the genetic markers there is only a slight chance that she could have autoimmune Celiac Disease. These tests can also rule out a problem with non-celiac sprue.

Another test would be the molecular serology test offered by Prometheus Labs and others. This test can tell if she has a binding site for gliadin fragments which sets off the autoimmune response.

Several labs offer enteric panels which can give a lot of information on bowel functions and possible problems.

[Roda]

I had both of my boys blood tested after my diagnosis. They were 3(almost 4) and 7 at the time. They were both negative but only the ttg was done. Had my oldest retested when he was 8 and all tests (full panel) was negative again. Had then retested again Nov. 2010 ages 5(almost 6) and 9 with full panel. Oldest son is still negative (new allergist thinks he is either sero negative celiac or gluten intolerent) and my youngest son's ttg test was positive. We opted out of a gi consult/scope (my husband later regretted this) and put the youngest gluten free for 4 1/2 months. We did a gluten challenge and it only lasted three days when my husband called it quits. It was extremely apparent that gluten affected him within 12 hours. If there was any doubt in my husbands mind about our decision they are gone now. I feel that he has celiac based on the positive ttg and his reaction to the challenge. As to my oldest, he is a very slow grower, however he is in the 25th percentile on the height/weight chart. He is one of the smallest boys in the 4th grade. The husband and I are talking about what to do with him. I want to put him gluten free regardless of his negative tests, but husband does not. His allergist feels he needs to be gluten free also since his brother and I both have celiac. He has had his fair share of issues in the past. I'm hopeful that my husband and I can come to some kind of agreement soon. On Sun. the poor child was curled up and crying because he had such bad gas pains. I know how he feels cause I would get like that before diagnosis for many years and didn't know why. I think he (my son) is willing to try gluten free because he was so miserable.

[ravenwoodglass]

As to my oldest, he is a very slow grower, however he is in the 25th percentile on the height/weight chart. He is one of the smallest boys in the 4th grade. The husband and I are talking about what to do with him. I want to put him gluten free regardless of his negative tests, but husband does not. His allergist feels he needs to be gluten free also since his brother and I both have celiac. He has had his fair share of issues in the past. I'm hopeful that my husband and I can come to some kind of agreement soon. On Sun. the poor child was curled up and crying because he had such bad gas pains. I know how he feels cause I would get like that before diagnosis for many years and didn't know why. I think he (my son) is willing to try gluten free because he was so miserable.

I hope your husband will at least agree to a trial of the diet with him. Perhaps you could go at it in the same way you did with the youngest, do a trial for a few months and then a challenge. Since his allergist also feels he needs to be gluten free if Dad wasn't at those appointments perhaps either he could go with you to one or the allergist could write a 'script' for it.

[Roda]

I hope your husband will at least agree to a trial of the diet with him. Perhaps you could go at it in the same way you did with the youngest, do a trial for a few months and then a challenge. Since his allergist also feels he needs to be gluten free if Dad wasn't at those appointments perhaps either he could go with you to one or the allergist could write a 'script' for it.

We have been talking more. I'm trying to decide if we should consult with a GI. I'm not so sure they would agree to a scope and his allergist doesn't think they will either. I don't know. I'm also afraid that if the biopsy was negative that my husband would think that is the end of it and never consider it in the future. He is completely on board with me and my youngest son being gluten free and very supportive/protective of us. He is the type that needs "proof" to commit and he does not have that with the oldest. I did ask him to go to his last appointment but he couldn't get out of work to go. I'm also wondering if going gluten free would lessen his IgE allergy reactions since his immune system will not be battling so many things at once. He has been having a time with developing hives lately randomly and immediatly after his allergy injections (around the injection site). I've got to keep him on antihistimines or he is miserable.

[ravenwoodglass]

We have been talking more. I'm trying to decide if we should consult with a GI. I'm not so sure they would agree to a scope and his allergist doesn't think they will either. I don't know. I'm also afraid that if the biopsy was negative that my husband would think that is the end of it and never consider it in the future. He is completely on board with me and my youngest son being gluten free and very supportive/protective of us. He is the type that needs "proof" to commit and he does not have that with the oldest. I did ask him to go to his last appointment but he couldn't get out of work to go. I'm also wondering if going gluten free would lessen his IgE allergy reactions since his immune system will not be battling so many things at once. He has been having a time with developing hives lately randomly and immediatly after his allergy injections (around the injection site). I've got to keep him on antihistimines or he is miserable.

For some of us the best proof is in our relief from symptoms on the diet. I am a blood test negative celiac and that delayed my diagnosis to the point where I was almost dead by diagnosis and it cost me and my children a lot of years. I do hope your husband will agree to a trial on the diet. Also make him aware that in addition to false negatives on testing people can develop celiac at any age so just because someone is negative on one test doesn't mean they will be negative on later ones.

[Roda]

For some of us the best proof is in our relief from symptoms on the diet. I am a blood test negative celiac and that delayed my diagnosis to the point where I was almost dead by diagnosis and it cost me and my children a lot of years. I do hope your husband will agree to a trial on the diet. Also make him aware that in addition to false negatives on testing people can develop celiac at any age so just because someone is negative on one test doesn't mean they will be negative on later ones.

He does know this especially since the youngest one went from a negative test to positive. I want him to be just as much involved in the decision making as I am. I don't want him to think I am "forcing" him. I kept pretty quiet during the gluten challenge for youngest son and he really stepped up and now has no doubts. So I feel that he may come around soon regarding the oldest.