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Removing Gluten from Sick Child's Diet

January 25, 2011

Removing Gluten from Sick Child’s Diet

January 25, 2011

Question:

My 6-year-old daughter has been through a whirlwind of health issues. She has been diagnosed with dairy allergy, soy intolerance, environmental allergies and drug allergies, but one thing that remains is bowel trouble. Her bowel movements are yellow and large; she bloats, appears to be underweight, complains of sore legs, is fidgety and seems unhappy all the time. I came across celiac disease and wondered that, with all that is already being left out of her diet, would it be safe just to take her off gluten and see how it goes? Her pediatrician isn’t looking into it.

I also noticed my 15-month-old son following in the same footsteps. He had pasta the first time in 6 months and his stool was very loose and foul-smelling. He was colic as well.

I am frustrated and looking for advice from anyone who will listen. I have booked the kids to see a natural doctor, so I hope to get answers.

From,

Miranda

Answer:

Hi Miranda. Ask your child’s doctor to run the celiac blood test panel. See the NFCA page on Diagnosis and Treatment to see the specific tests to ask for: https://www.beyondceliac.org/Celiac-Disease/Diagnosis-Treatment/33/

There are also tests that can be run on stool samples. Irregular stool can be caused by many different reasons, and it is important to get a proper diagnosis. The many symptoms you mentioned could be related to celiac disease, to your daughter’s other food and drug allergies, or to something completely different, and only a medical professional will be able to diagnosis the problem. It is concerning that you think your daughter is underweight, so you should seek the professional advice of your pediatrician and/or local children’s hospital, specifically their Gastroenterology Department, as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Nancy Dickens, MS, RD, LDN


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