Celiac Disease can develop at any age in an adult or child. It is a disease that impacts the villi in the small intestine after a person consumes gluten- a protein present in rye, wheat, and barley. People with this disease should not overlook it or ignore its treatment as it leads to severe health complications in the future.
Yasith Weerasuriya – How does the disease impact the growth and health of a child?
Yasith Weerasuriya is one of the Board of Directors of the Celiac Disease Foundation and the President of Stanbridge University located in Irvine and Los Angeles in California, USA. He holds more than 20 years of invaluable experience in executive leadership with a focus on the educational sector. He completed his education at the Irvine Valley College and the Wichita State University in America. He is the founding President of the College Chapter of Phi Thera Kappa, the President of the Honor Society, and the President of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Chapter.
Key points to note about celiac disease in children
The following are the key points that you need to take into consideration when it comes to celiac disease in children-
- Celiac disease is a digestive issue that hurts the small intestine. It stops the body from taking nutrients from the food you consume.
- It is genetic in nature, and so if a family member has it, your child has a very high chance of developing the disease.
- It affects all genders and races.
- It can be really hard to diagnose because the symptoms are not related to digestive complications and problems.
- The sole solution for this disease is to stop your child from eating gluten. The body will heal after gluten is completely removed from the child’s diet.
Taking care of a child with celiac disease
Children are susceptible to Celiac Disease, and so here, awareness is the key. This disease can take place at any time after food or wheat with gluten is introduced to the child after six to nine months. Some mothers are not sure when their child becomes ill so early as they lack awareness of the celiac disease.
As a parent, what should you look out for?
If you are a parent and you see your child falling ill early after the ingestion of gluten in food products and drinks, look out for the following symptoms that might be the result of celiac disease-
- The growth of your child is slow and poor.
- Your child vomits after ingestion of gluten.
- Signs of malnutrition.
- Distention in the abdomen.
- Diarrhea with stools that have a foul smell.
- Your child is moody and irritable.
According to Yasith Weerasuriya,if you see signs of your child falling ill, the invention of a doctor is crucial as tests should be conducted to identify any symptoms of celiac disease that can severely affect the growth and development of the child. This disease is hereditary, and if it runs in your family, there is a high probability that first-degree relatives will get celiac disease. Generally, one in ten people will get celiac disease.
