Hair Loss And Swollen Glands In Kids With Celiac?

[Jen-1984]

Hi, I am new here, looks like I am pretty well in early diagnosis of celiac disease with a positive DGP test and my son has been experiencing some strange symptoms and I was looking for anyone whose child maybe going through the same whose child was dx'ed with celiac.

It all started when he was about 2, he started getting swollen glands all over the neck. I was worried and took him to his pediatrician who did blood tests and all came back normal. Then about a year later I noticed more popping up so his doc had him referred to an ENT who decided to do a biopsy of the nodes which came back clear for cancer and they were mainly suspicious of lymphoma.

They said the nodes were reacting to something, but they didnt know what and that he would most likely grow out of it. About 8 months ago, my son began acting differently also. He would get extremely hyper, and I know kids are hyper, especially little boys, but this was not normal. He was so full of energy that he couldn't stop running around the house and had a very very hard time sleeping. My husband commented about it saying he was very worried he has ADHD. I also noticed that he was sweating in his sleep profusely and he would often complain of ulcers in his mouth hurting while he was trying to eat.

I took him to another pediatrician in the same office as his main doc who looked at the ulcers in his mouth and she said it could be autoimmune related and that she had never seen anything like that before. But she said autoimmune disorders are very hard to dx in kids. He gets reoccuring mouth sores quite often.

My husband just pointed out the other day that he had bald spots on his hair, and I dismissed that thinking he just inherited my fine, thin hair, but today I noticed a patchy bald spot at the top of his head. Now I am franKly worried. I have been having my own health struggles and barely had one test come back positive as I said earlier in my post that indicates celiac disease. I want to know if any of you parents have had similar issues in your kids who you found out had celiac disease or possibly an allergy to milk, lactose or anything else. ANY input is so welcome and thanks in advance.

[Cara in Boston]

Your son should be tested anyway, because of your positive blood test. For us, the only symptom my son had (at age 5) was a drastic change in behavior. However, we have noticed that since being gluten free, his sleep habits are much better and his hair has changed completely. Went from fine and limp to thick and wavy.

Before I was diagnosed, I would get swollen glands and my hair was falling out at an alarming rate. I thought I was just getting old. Most of my symptoms went away immediately after going gluten free, but my hair took about a year to get back to where it was before my symptoms started.

Behavior changes and mouth sores are both common symptoms of celiac in children. I would get him tested, and then try the diet (regardless of the results) and see if he feels better being gluten free.

Cara