Learning To Live With Gluten Allergy In Kids

Gluten Allergy Basics

There seems to be some debate over what is and isn't true gluten allergy in kids.  Some professionals say that gluten allergy in kids is only an allergy where the classic immunoglobulin E antibody can be traced.  Often, medical professionals will say that gluten allergy is the condition most commonly known as Celiac's Disease or Celiac Sprue.  But there is little point in arguing over the semantics because in the end the result is the same—the child's body reacts to the gluten protein in such a way as to cause mild, moderate, and serious food allergy symptoms.

Gluten allergy in kids is particularly concerning because it affects the ability of the intestines to function properly and absorb much-needed vitamins and nutrients in the body.  Gluten allergy in kids causes allergic reactions that eventually cause irritation in the small intestine and destruction of the intestinal lining.  Once the intestinal lining is damaged by a child's gluten allergy, the body can no longer effectively process foods and loses its ability to absorb vital food elements.  In turn, this causes poor health, gastrointestinal problems, and malnutrition.

These symptoms are often the exact symptoms that lead to evaluation and diagnosis of gluten allergy in kids.  Children stop growing at an acceptable rate, lose weight, and become generally unhealthy.  In addition, a host of other symptoms may emerge, such as

• Diarrhea
• Frequent fatigue
• Weakness
• Gassiness
• Cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Appetite loss
• Bloating of the abdomen

Eventually, other parts of the body may come to be affected, including the bones, organs, blood, and reproductive and nervous systems. It is now believed that gluten allergy in kids can also cause headaches, mood disorders, and depression.

The Key To Living With Celiac Disease Or Gluten Allergy

Following diagnosis, the one key to ongoing maintenance of gluten allergy in kids, the one key to living well and maintaining a healthy diet, is to seek the services of a qualified dietician.  A dietician or nutritionist is an expert who can help eliminate all of the offending foods from the diet of kids with gluten allergies and replace them with healthy foods that will not cause allergic reaction or damage to the digestive track.

Since gluten is found in the four major grains and grain flours—wheat, barley, oats, and rye—it is very difficult to remove from the diet, and very difficult to remove it without seriously affecting the child's good nutrition.  A nutritionist or dietician will help parents of kids with gluten allergy

• Identify foods that contain gluten
• Identify food products that contain gluten, even those that are unexpected
• Identify foods that are safe for kids with gluten allergies
• Learn what kids with gluten allergies need to be cautious of in regards to malnutrition and vitamin, mineral, and essential food element loss
• Learn about cross-contamination
• Learn how and where to buy safe foods that are free of gluten and gluten cross-contamination
• Learn where to go for information and support
• Learn how to read food labels
• Learn how to eat in public, and how to order gluten-free foods in a restaurant
• Give parents gluten-free recipes
• Be an informational resource for kids and parents dealing with gluten allergy

If the work of a dietician helping a family to manage a gluten allergy sounds complex, it is.  Over time, though, living with a gluten allergy takes on a sort of second nature, and the child, the parents, and other household members learn how to live seamlessly at home, in school, and in public with a gluten allergy.