Elevated DGP antibodies (and especially DGP-IgG) are often seen in patients with celiac disease on a gluten-containing diet. They appear to have approximately the same value of the tTG-IgA antibody test. However, it appears that in very young children (i.e., in the first two years of life) DGP-IgG do provide a better test for celiac… Read more »
(Updated .)Keyword: children
At what age should children get tested for celiac disease?
Generally, children at risk for celiac disease are screened at age 3 unless symptoms are seen beforehand. In children younger than 3, with symptoms, antibody testing is usually reliable, especially if it includes DGP-IgG. Children must be eating wheat or barley-based cereals for some time, up to several months, before they can generate an autoimmune… Read more »
(Updated .)What’s the likelihood of arthritis in children with celiac disease?
Five percent of children who have arthritis have celiac disease as its cause. The number of celiac children who present with arthritis is just not known.
(Updated .)I’m concerned about my child having a biopsy. Is it really necessary in children? Can my child have the biopsy when he is older?
While it is understandable for parents to be concerned about this procedure, there are several important facts to consider. First, the procedure takes 10-15 minutes, during which the child is under general anesthesia and closely monitored by a team of anesthesiologists and an experienced physician. Second, research shows that children diagnosed before the age of… Read more »
(Updated .)My children were identified with bone mass issues at an early age. Will they always have bone mass problems?
Their bone mass should go back to normal in less than a year once a strict gluten-free diet has started.
(Updated .)Should children receive bone density scans once diagnosed with celiac disease?
Children should only receive a bone density scan at diagnosis if there’s a clinical indication to do so, such as a history of fractures.
(Updated .)What is the prevalence for others in my family to have celiac disease since I’ve been diagnosed with it?
Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disease. The prevalence of celiac disease in 1st-degree relatives (children, parents, siblings) has been reported by numerous studies around the world to be significantly higher than in the general population, hence the need to screen every 1st-degree relative. The actual prevalence varies among the published studies, between 4-16%. Our… Read more »
(Updated .)How much oats can a child under 5 years of age consume per day?
A child under 5 years of age can consume less than one cup of pure, gluten-free oats per day, which is about three servings for a child of that age.
(Updated .)Are food allergies more or less likely to resolve in kids with celiac disease?
There’s no difference in food allergies between celiac and non-celiac kids.
(Updated .)If both parents have a negative genetic screen for celiac disease, does that mean their children are also negative?
Yes, the children of two persons who don’t have the genes for celiac disease should also be free of the genes for the disease.
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