Possible Celiac Disease in a 6 Month Old?

Hi A.,

Tell her to contact Dr. Guandalini at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Celiac is very serious and can cause major problems if left undiagnosed/treated.

There are too many possibilities and while celiac disease may be one, there are far too many other reasons for baby's episode, in my opinion/experience. Your friend would be better off giving her baby trials of one vegetable at a time, for 3 -4 days to ensure there is no reaction, slowly increasing the vegetables tried and then introducing fruits. As baby does well, she can then try barley or oatmeal, etc., again just a small sample over a few days. She should report back to her ped (or a new one) of any issues.

I would find a new doctor if I were her. And I would make sure that when I did, I would mention this to the doctor. I have neverr heard of celiac disease before and just looked it up myself, it could also be irritable bowel syndrome, iron-deficiency anemia caused by menstrual blood loss, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, intestinal infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Maybe even go to a doctor at a Chicago Hospital, Children's Memorial. I also read that to find out for sure, a blood test needs to be taken. Hope she finds out soon.

God's Blessings
D.

I do not have any experience with infants however, my brother-in-law has celiac diesease. He has had it for over 15 years diagnosed.

I think the reason why infants discover they have it after being introduced cereal is because cereal contains wheat. Celiac's are allegic to gluten, wheat, MSG, etc... Which I am sure you read about all ready on the internet.

If the child is celiac they need to change her diet. If the symptoms still occur after a few days of diet change then she is not celiac, most likely.

They really should probe the doctors for answers. I can not believe this doctor just called it celiac diesease and did not referr her to a nutrionist or someone who can advice of a proper diet. Celiac diesease, from what I know about it, is a life long diesease that can be managed through diet.

Try this site out:
http://www.celiac.com/index.html

I agree with the other poster that it is most likely something else and not celiac disease. I myself have celiac and was diagnosed at about 12 months. It can only be diagnosed after the child is exposed to gluten. If it was rice cereal, that doesn't have gluten in it, however if it was oatmeal or barley cereal (or anything with wheat, rye, oats or barley), then it could be celiac. The only way to officially diagnose celiac is to do a biopsy of the intestine. There is a blood test but it is not 100% accurate.

I have a child with celiac disease. You are born with the disease. Celiac disease is life threatening because the liver will become diseased if the diet is not changed. The is not an allergy that you can out go. It is a metabolic disorder that does not allow the intestions to digest food. Making it impossible to absorb nutrients that the body needs. It is for life. Medical doctors in our country do not know anything about the disease. Diagnosis takes ten years in the U.S. I am still fighting the school and the doctors over the diagnosis. They may want to do an intestine biopsy which is barbaric in my estimation. They can do tests of blood for DNA markers. My child was very sick from birth until he was diagnosed with Celiac at six months by specialists. The child may also be intolerant to milk proteins. Seek alternative medicine. Strict diet and vitamins are the only way to maintain good health. The brain will starve causing reasoning and behavior problems otherwise. This is one factor in my son's ADHD. I would try perminent oils to release the stomach cramps or perminent tea. Also keep virgin olive oil for diaper rash and greasing the anis. Olive oil cures the worst diaper rash over night. Good luck to your friend.

Celiac disease runs in my family so I'm quite familiar with it. To show signs of celiac disease you need to be exposed to gluten which is found in rye, wheat, barley, or oats. If the baby was given rice cereal then it is not celiac disease. If it contained gluten then it could be. The next step is to go to a pediatric gastroenterologist and have the baby tested. First by blood then by an intestinal biopsy. There have been cases however of celiacs not having a "positive" biopsy or bloodtest and responding well to the diet.

I took my son to one who was very knowledgeable about the disease. If you want the name I can look it up for you. It is slowly becoming more mainstream.

Good luck.

Someone I know was just diagnosed with Celiac, and there is a blood test they can use to narrow down whether there's reason to do a biopsy (that's what they're going to do for her kids since it's genetic.)

But if the ER doctor had no particular reason for coming up with celiac, that would seem like a leap of logic to me too.

I just did a google and all I said was Celiac Disease in infants. TONS of stuff came up. The first site I clicked on said Celiac Disease affects people of all ages. However, the effects of the disease on children are particularly dramatic.

Similarly, the effect of a gluten free diet on a celiac child produces one of the most miraculous responses seen in medicine.

Signs and symptoms of Celiac Disease in infants and children are irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, growth failure, chronic diarrhea, rarely chronic constipation, fine hair, luxuriant eyelashes, decreased sub-cutaneous tissue, loss of muscle mass, protuberant abdomen, gluteal wasting.

I think maybe your friend should consult a different Dr.