Coeliac disease is believed to affect approximately 1% of the population, across all age ranges. For children of parents already diagnosed with the condition, or who have siblings with Coeliac disease, this rises to 10%. Unfortunately, many children with coeliac disease do not receive an immediate or early diagnosis, with their symptoms dismissed as just childhood ‘tummy ache’, and their slow growth put down to them being a ‘late bloomer’.

However, it is important to identify coeliac disease symptoms in children and have their condition diagnosed as early as possible. Once diagnosed, a gluten free diet can not only alleviate their current symptoms, but also prevent long term problems with growth, fatigue and malnutrition.

So what are the coeliac disease symptoms you should be looking for in children?

Coeliac disease symptoms by age group

In all children, the symptoms of coeliac disease may manifest as gastrointestinal issues. These include vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and stomach pain. This can be accompanied by extreme fatigue. If your child displays one or more of these symptoms over an extended period (beyond what would be caused by a simple stomach bug) then you should consult your GP and ask for a test for coeliac disease.

Symptoms can occur in very early life, as soon as wheat-based foods are introduced at around 6-9 months. However, they may lay dormant until later childhood, or even into adulthood. Coeliac disease symptoms can vary with age, so it’s important to recognise the red flags at different stages:

1. Infants and toddlers – are more likely to display obvious gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting, bloating, diarrhoea etc.
2. School-age children – in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms they may also report stomach pains and have trouble gaining weight or height
3. Older children and teens – in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms, coeliac disease can delay puberty, stunt growth and cause severe headaches and migraines.

Less obvious symptoms

While gastrointestinal symptoms are the classic warning sign, there are also a number of less common symptoms of coeliac disease in children. For example, the only sign of coeliac disease may be an iron deficiency in the blood. One study found that as many as 30% of children with coeliac disease only had this symptom initially.

Another common symptom is permanent irritability. The exact cause of this is not understood, but it may be due to constantly feeling unwell, or it could be caused by a lack of key nutrients, such as vitamin B-12, which play a role in mood and nerve function.

Malnutrition and childhood coeliac disease

Many of the symptoms that manifest in childhood are a result of malnutrition. You may think that you are feeding your child a healthy, balanced diet, but coeliac disease results in their body being unable to absorb the nutrients they need. This can lead to the classic image of a malnourished child who is thin, with a distended stomach, stunted growth and suffers regular diarrhoea.

That said, it’s important to note that your child does not have to be showing these symptoms to be suffering from coeliac disease. One study showed that nearly 20% of children are overweight when diagnosed with coeliac disease, and as many as three quarters were recorded as normal weight for their age.

Other indicators of coeliac disease

As discussed above, having a direct relative, such as a parent or sibling with the disease, increases the risk tenfold. So if you or any of your immediate family have coeliac disease, then you need to be extra vigilant for symptoms in your child.

Glutafin is with you all the way

It can be daunting when your child is diagnosed with coeliac disease, but don’t worry, because Glutafin is with you all the way. As well as supplying gluten free foods on prescription, you’ll also find we’ve packed our website with helpful information, recipes and practical tips to help you and your child adjust to their new regime. Take a look around our website for more details and feel free to get in touch.

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