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 Couldn't
my child's symptoms be Celiac?
My daughter
(2 1/2) turned jaundiced a couple
of weeks ago. For the past year
and a half, she has never had
a solid stool and her loose stools
are foul smelling. She has always
had a distended looking abdomen
and did not start eating solids
until she was 18 months old or
she would throw up. Her hair is
still thin and short like that
of a one year old and her hair
is very dry and lacks luster.
She is very tiny. Lately, she
began gagging herself and would
let out huge belches, sometimes
with a little vomit. Then when
she turned yellow, the doctor
tested her liver enzymes which
were elevated. An ultrasound showed
nothing amiss. Hepatitis and Mono
tests were negative.
Finally, a friend told me that
a friend of hers has a 5 year
old who turned jaundiced and it
turned out to be Celiac Disease.
I have made an appointment with
the gastroenterology department
a St. Louis hospital this Saturday
to see if they can confirm. I
have had many digestive problems
and had wheat sensitivity show
up in my own blood work since
she was born. Now, I avoid wheat
in general myself, but I have
never had the endoscopy. I went
ahead and took my daughter off
of wheat and dairy five days ago
and yesterday she had one of the
first solid bowel movements I
have ever seen from her. Her belly
looks almost normal and she looks
less jaundiced. So, I am wondering
what you think as well. Thanks
for your consideration!
|
 Your
case sounds very similar to one
that I addressed several months
earlier. Both you and your daughter
need to be thoroughly tested for
celiac disease, and that includes
an intestinal biopsy. I’m
glad that you made the right contact
in St. Louis. I wish you and your
family a lifetime of gluten-free
health. Stick around, some exciting
research is coming down the pipeline
to make the millions of celiac
sufferers achieve a normal life.
Health
and happiness,
Dr. Aron, Feb
2008
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Tics
and Celiac?
I’ve seen “neurological
symptoms” listed as a possible
symptom of celiac and gluten intolerance
–are tics one of these possible
“neurological symptoms”?
My four year old is currently
undergoing testing for celiac,
but she also has begun to exhibit
frequent and significant tics.
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It
is possible that the tics are
related to celiac disease. Neurologic
involvement in celiac disease
is the slowest to resolve, as
nerve tissue regenerates very
slowly, so be patient with the
gluten-free diet. You should also
consult with a pediatric neurologist,
as there may be symptomatic relief
available while you await resolution
of the problem.
Health and happiness,
Dr. Aron, Feb
2008 |
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Scorching
rectum pain after eating.
I
have scorching rectum pain after
defecation which occurs 20 minutes
after eating. No hemorrhoids present.
I have IBS and 2 colonoscopys
plus all biospies reveal nought.
Suffered at least 10 years. No
help available so far. Please
help if possible though I really
doubt it. Lost 35 lbs. - Sick
lady
|
The
weight loss needs to be addressed,
as anal fissures and IBS are not
associated with this degree of
wasting. That said, IBS is now
recognised as an inflammatory
disease that alters function and
sensitivity without changing structure,
hence the negative colonoscopies
and endoscopies. I have had success
using low doses of balasalazide
or mesalamine in this setting;
this is cutting-edge stuff, but
check with your gastroenterologist
about it.
Health and happiness,
Dr. Aron, Feb
2008
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Celiac
in Jejunum / Proximal Ileum?
What
is the best way to look at the
distal jejunum-proximal illium?
Can Celiac disease manifest itself
there? Also can Chylous ascites
and volvulus accompany celiac
disease? Many thanks for your
answer.
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If
there has been no previous surgery,
or episodes of obstruction, then
a wireless capsule endoscopy can
give a good view of the distal
jejunum and proximal ileum. A
double-balloon enteroscopy either
via the mouth or the rectum can
see these areas and get biopsies
as well, but cannot be done if
there has been an obstruction
from a prior surgery. It is conceivable
that far advanced celiac disease
can lead to lymphoma which can
produce a volvulus and chylous
ascites, but the treatment would
have to be focused on the lymphoma,
and relief of the volvulus. Do
not expect a gluten-free diet
to have much of an effect in this
setting.
Health and happiness,
Dr. Aron, Feb
2008
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