As a new mother, I am overly vigilant when it comes to my child, especially what and how well he eats, and how it all comes out the other end. Kind of disgusting, I know, but parents are usually extremely aware of that aspect of their baby. It can tell you a lot. I know how my little guy is feeling by what I find in his diaper, and I see how certain foods work well with his digestion, and certain foods do not. If you are wondering how to spot gluten intolerance symptoms in your child, first speak to your pediatrician. But you could also monitor what is going in and how it comes out, and make notes in a symptom journal accordingly. That way you will get the most out of your doctor visit.
How to Spot Gluten Intolerance Symptoms in Your Child
For more information of spotting the signs of Celiac, read this article in Tempo.
How to Spot Gluten Intolerance Symptoms in Your ChildA child with gluten intolerance, also known as coeliac disease, often shows no signs of the digestive condition until eating grain-based foods for the first time, usually after the age of six months. Sometimes, however, the small intestine’s immune reaction to gluten – a protein found in the endosperm of wheat and certain other grains – does not manifest itself until school age or even adulthood. ”If a child suffers from chronic diarrhea and bloating, has little appetite and hardly gains weight, coeliac disease could be the culprit,” said Ulrich Fegeler, spokesman for Germany’s Professional Association of Children’s and Young People’s Physicians. Often running in families, coeliac disease causes inflammation in the small intestine and damages its lining of villi, which are tiny, hair-like projections that absorb nutrients from food. It is now known that other organ systems can also be affected, such as the skin, nervous system, kidneys, heart and liver. About 1 per cent of Europeans have coeliac disease. The only effective treatment for a child with coeliac disease is a gluten-free diet, which means lifetime abstention from foods including wheat, rye and oats. Gluten is frequently found in products made from flour such as breads, cakes, pies and biscuits as well as in confectionery, tinned food and some kinds of sausage and cheese. It is even mixed into stabilizing agents, emulsifiers, flavour enhancers, spices and separating agents, and it is often used to thicken fruit juices. ”A child who strictly follows a gluten-free diet will generally get well again in six to 12 months. The diarrhoea will subside and the child will catch up on retarded growth,” Fegeler said. After the symptoms have disappeared, the child must stick to the diet, he added. Otherwise there could be an increased risk of bowel cancer. |
Learning how to spot gluten intolerance symptoms in your child can be nerve wracking. But the effort is worth the peace of mind you will get knowing you are meeting your child’s nutritional needs so that they grow up strong and healthy.
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