Celiac disease in children: symptoms & gluten-free diet

The disease is also known as sprue and gluten intolerance . And not that rare, because it is one of the most common non-infectious intestinal diseases.

Children can be affected just as much as adults. In Germany, around 1 percent of all people suffer from celiac disease , although the severity varies.

The trigger for the chronic disease is partly genetic. The reason is that the body reacts to gluten. This is the gluten protein in many types of grain.

Gluten is contained in these grains:

• Wheat
• Spelt
• rye
• barley
  
  

Old and rare grains such as emmer, einkorn or green kernels also contain gluten. Oats are a special case. Oats are actually gluten-free. However, contact with wheat can occur during cultivation, further processing and packaging.

That's why you should pay attention to precise labeling when buying oat products.

Gluten causes inflammation in the small intestine . Tiny cracks form in the mucous membrane, it becomes thinner and can no longer do the actual work of the digestive process.

If you have the right disposition, even the smallest amounts are enough to cause consequential damage in small children and other age groups .

The body reacts to gluten and produces antibodies against the gluten component gliadin. These antibodies destroy the lining of the small intestine by attacking the structural proteins in the small intestine.
The consequences are serious : If celiac disease is not recognized and treated in the child , the food can no longer be consumed with all the important components.

Deficiencies in the absorption of zinc, calcium, iron and vitamin D can occur. Due to the undersupply, the formation of digestive enzymes suffers.

Children suffer from indigestion, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Other food intolerances may occur, such as lactose intolerance .

Even more serious effects include anemia, rickets and short stature . Damage to teeth is also possible. Above all, the child simply does not feel well; he is often tired and exhausted. Older school-age children may experience a drop in performance.

The problem is that small children cannot yet express themselves properly. Refusal to eat and a bad mood can also have other causes.

An example : During the teething phase, children often don't want to eat, they cry a lot and appear sick. However, these phases pass relatively quickly. However, if a child is suspected of having celiac disease, things are different. Celiac disease symptoms that children develop are permanent.

It is important to have an accurate diagnosis that can be used to detect celiac disease in children. The diagnosis is certain with a blood test, so other reasons can be ruled out.

The following signs may indicate that a child has celiac disease:

• He doesn't like to eat, to the point of refusing to eat.
• Your child is very often tired and tearful.
• Diarrhea and nausea often occur.
  
  

Children who cannot yet say what is wrong with them still notice that the food is not good for them. That's why some people refuse to eat.

The result, of course, is a constant feeling of hunger, which doesn't exactly contribute to a better mood. If there is also significant weight loss, a trip to the doctor is essential. Ultimately, you want to know exactly whether the child has celiac disease .

The vegan diet offers good conditions for a successful change in diet . Of course, even with a vegan diet you have to avoid foods containing gluten.

But a balanced vegan diet contains everything the child's organism needs. Versatile vegan food contains vegan protein sources and the main ingredients such as vegetables, fruits and legumes provide the body with vitamins and minerals.

Only the intake of vitamin B12 may be too little if meat is avoided in the diet. Otherwise, important components such as vegetable protein are included in a balanced vegan diet .