| Gluten is the cause of Coeliac disease, a serious | | | | should be checked out by a medical practitioner. |
| and lifelong auto-immune condition (meaning that | | | | The common symptoms of gluten sensitivity and |
| the body produces antibodies that attack its own | | | | therefore possibly Coeliac disease include: |
| tissues). Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, | | | | Feeling tired or exhausted |
| rye, oats, spelt, and other grains (NB some people | | | | Want more energy |
| are able to tolerate oats). Coeliac disease is | | | | Have low iron levels |
| genetic so your risk is increased if you have | | | | 'Irritable bowel' diarrhoea/constipation |
| family members who are sufferers. Treatment | | | | Gastric reflux, heart burn |
| consists of a gluten free diet for life, which leads | | | | Get moody or irritable or depressed |
| to a full recovery in most cases. Many people | | | | Bothered by headaches and migraine |
| with Coeliac disease do not realise they have the | | | | Also, consider if your child(ren) have chronic |
| condition. | | | | symptoms such as: |
| In Coeliac disease, the villi that line the gut are | | | | * eczema (itchy and scratchy skin) |
| attacked and damaged leading to problems with | | | | * stomach troubles (gastric reflux, sore tummies, |
| absorption of essential nutrients. Symptoms vary | | | | diarrhoea, constipation) |
| from mild to serious and can include stomach | | | | * behaviour issues (being cranky, moody and |
| pains, bloating, diarrhoea and nausea. Symptoms | | | | irritable) |
| are often confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome | | | | Lots of children (and adults) have chronic |
| (IBS) or stress. Recognizing and diagnosing Coeliac | | | | symptoms of gluten sensitivity but think that |
| disease can be a lengthy drawn out process and | | | | they are 'normal'. They experience symptoms and |
| some people go years before finding a diagnosis | | | | bad feelings every day of their lives - but this is |
| and some people are simply never diagnosed and | | | | 'normal' for them. They do not recognise that |
| suffer with general ill health. Since the disease can | | | | they have a problem. It affects about 1 in 10 |
| go on for many years undiagnosed there is the | | | | people. So your child could be the one! If the |
| risk of developing long-term complications such as | | | | symptoms in these lists are starting to look |
| anaemia, weight and hair loss, osteoporosis, | | | | familiar then perhaps a test for gluten sensitivity |
| infertility, joint/bone pain and malnutrition. | | | | is your next step. It is always difficult diagnosing |
| Q. Does your toddler/child have more than two | | | | any condition in children as they are not able to |
| of the following symptoms after eating | | | | tell us what is wrong. So, it is important that you |
| gluten-containing foods: abdominal distension or | | | | make observations about your child/toddlers |
| bloating; bone or joint pain; flatulence; headache, | | | | behaviour, bowel movements, energy levels, |
| nausea and vomiting? | | | | eczema flare ups etc - consider keeping a food |
| Q. Has your toddler/child ever been diagnosed | | | | and symptom diary to see if there are any |
| with: anaemia; obesity; low bone density; sleep | | | | patterns. This diary could assist a doctor with |
| apnoea? | | | | their investigations and eventual diagnosis. Talk to |
| Q. Would you say your toddler/child is generally: | | | | your doctor or an allergy specialist about getting |
| tired - especially after eating; prone to swinging | | | | tested - a very simple blood test can help to |
| between constipation and diarrhoea; noted for | | | | detect the possibility of gluten sensitivity and then |
| having a poor appetite and for lingering over | | | | further tests can be carried out for Coeliac |
| food? | | | | disease if necessary. It is important to have these |
| Surprisingly enough, all the symptoms listed above | | | | tests done before starting a gluten free diet |
| and below are indicative of gluten reactions and | | | | otherwise the tests could give false negatives. |