Celiac disease in children: causes and clinical manifestations

Celiac disease (intestinal infantilism, idiopathic steatorrhea, or gluten enteropathy) is a chronic polysyndrome pathology that manifests itself as a nonspecific lesion of the small intestinal mucosa that results in poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients.

Causes of this disease

At the heart of celiac disease are immunopathological changes in the body that arise when exposed to external, genetic or immunological factors.

The leading role in the development of this disease belongs to the gliadin. It is a gluten protein that is found in cereals (wheat, oats, barley, rye). There is also a hypothesis that celiac disease in children can occur under the influence of viruses. Thus, in some patients a high titer of antibodies to adenovirus type 12 is detected in the examination, but it should be noted that the viral etiology of the disease has a secondary character. If you follow a diet with the exception of products containing gliadin, the amount of antibodies to adenoviruses decreases even in the absence of specific antiviral therapy.

I must say that even the minimum amount of gluten can trigger the activation of the immune system and provoke inflammatory changes in the intestine. In addition, it is unfortunately impossible to completely get rid of celiac disease, but with a strict diet with the exception of cereal products, the symptoms of the disease do not appear.

If we talk about the hereditary mechanism of the development of this disease, then in the pathogenesis of this pathology there is an autosomal dominant type of inheritance with incomplete penetrance.

Celiac disease in children: basic clinical manifestations

This disease can occur asymptomatically or manifest as nonspecific signs that are not characteristic for inflammation of the intestine. At an early age, this disease is most often manifested after the introduction of complementary foods containing gluten (porridge, biscuits).

Celiac disease in children is characterized by the following clinical manifestations:

• prolonged diarrhea (diarrhea);

• constipation, which alternate with a loose stool;

• flatulence and pain in the abdomen on the background of increased gas formation in the intestine ;

• the child is restless, constantly crying;

• frequent regurgitation or vomiting;

• a poor appetite and insufficient weight gain are registered, a complete refusal of food is possible;

• Since the absorption of nutrients and vitamins is impaired in the small intestine, celiac disease in children may manifest as hypo- or avitaminosis, as well as anemia;

• behavior of sick children changes - they become drowsy, restless and irritable, refuse to play.

Celiac disease in adults occurs against the backdrop of other diseases associated with a violation of the immune system, manifests itself as a violation of digestion, anemia, osteoporosis, hormonal failures. To identify the disease, an immunological and genetic examination is performed. When celiac disease develops, the diagnosis of this pathology must necessarily include a histological analysis of the small intestine biopsy.

It should be said that it is enough for patients to adhere to a gluten-free diet in order to improve their condition. In addition, it is necessary to correct vitamin-mineral deficiency, prescribe enzyme preparations for better digestion, as well as remedies that help restore normal intestinal flora.