Small size with MC kids?

[Rosie]

My grandson who is now 3 years old most likely has CD, as it is very prevalent in his mother's family (mom, grandmother, mom's only sister, and several maternal aunts). Both he and his sister have been gluten free from birth, as their mom rightly decided that it was the prudent thing to do. Even though he has been gluten free for life, he appears to be very sensitive to accidental ingestion of gluten, with diarrhea, severe diaper rash, and scalp and head rash.

My concern is that he is very small for his age, in the 2% range for both his height and weight. I'm concerned that he may have other food intolerances besides the gluten that might be affecting his growth. I wonder if because I'm MC, he could have inherited genes predisposing for MC as well as CD. He does tend to have more rashes and looser poop than I would consider normal. On the other hand, there are definitely some short genes swimming around his gene pool. His dad is 6' 1" and his mom is 5' 4". However his grandparents on his mom's side both are very small, with his grandmother barely tipping 5' and a grandfather who is 5' 3". Of course his grandmother was an undiagnosed CD until she was an adult, so that may have affected her growth.

So I wonder if it makes sense to spend the money to get him tested at Enterolab for dairy, soy and egg intolerances. What are the chances that he would have developed other food intolerances if he's been gluten free from the beginning of his life?

Rosie

[tex]

Rosie,

Now that's what I call a good question. I wish I knew the answer - it's certainly a thought-provoking question.

I'll offer this thought: According to my observations, very few of us are tall - in fact, many members are significantly below average, in height - but then, many members carry at least one celiac gene.

I suspect that the key determining factor in this issue will be whether or not any symptoms were triggered during childhood, since small intestinal damage, (nutrient malabsorption), should be the primary limiting factor that the disease might exert over growth rate. In the absence of a malabsorptional problem, I don't see how the disease could limit growth.

In the example you cited, since he is exhibiting growth issues, yes, I personally believe that tests by Enterolab might be in order. As Dr. Fine has pointed out, most celiacs who are unresponsive to the GF diet, have MC. Small size, IMO, could definitely be considered to be an indicator of lack of response to the diet, (even though certain other symptoms may be suppressed), since he has been following the GF diet since birth. If he had adopted the diet later in life, one could surmise that the growth restriction occurred before the diet was initiated, but obviously, that argument won't hold water in this case.

Here's why I feel that way: It is known that other food intolerances, (this has been verified for casein, at least, I believe), can cause villus atrophy, and other small intestinal damage. That opens the gate to malabsorption issues that are unrelated to celiac disease, according to the classic description.

At least, that's how I see it.

Tex

[Rosie]

Tex said

As Dr. Fine has pointed out, most celiacs who are unresponsive to the GF diet, have MC.

So little is known about MC in young ones.......but as a concerned grandma, I'd feel bad knowing what I know, if I didn't get it checked out with Enterolab. I'll see them all in a few days when I visit Seattle for New Years. I'll talk to my son and his wife about this and hopefully get their cooperation. As long as I'm footing the bill, they'll probably agree.....

Rosie

[barbaranoela]

Rosie---I never seem to think that a wee tot could possibly be socked with such an ailment---yet as it is prevalent in the family -I can understand the *connection*
Yet I --after so many years--never gave that a connection===matter of fact I never KNEW that *short genes* in a family could have such a connection to this ailment~~~

Learning new things every day~~~~

I gather testing by Dr. Fine would be a good idea= I would imagine their could be more to add to his issues!!

When all is done I would very much be interested as to what the outcome is~~~

Wishing all the best--
Barbara