Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are common among both adults and children. These include various eating disorders, inflammation of organs (gastritis, enteritis, cholecystitis), surgical pathologies (appendicitis, volvulus). In addition to the known diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, there are less common diseases associated with enzyme deficiency. An example is celiac disease. The symptoms and causes of gluten intolerance have been studied for a long time, but are still not fully understood. In most cases, this disease is first encountered by parents, since its manifestations begin already from infancy. Despite the serious consequences that can develop due to celiac disease, with the right approach, pathology is not considered a sentence.
Gluten intolerance - what is it?
Gluten protein is found in many foods. A large concentration of this substance is present in wheat and other cereals. As a result, dishes containing these components,lead to the development of characteristic symptoms in people suffering from celiac disease. Information about such a pathology appeared in ancient times. Then this disease was called "intestinal disease." In the 17th century, celiac disease began to be actively studied. Similar manifestations have been described in young children. Only in the middle of the 20th century did it become known that the disease is caused by the consumption of the protein "gluten".
Intolerance, the symptoms of which are different in children and adults, resembles the clinical picture of chronic intestinal infections, enterocolitis, pancreatitis. Previously, it was believed that such a disease is rare (1 person per 3 thousand of the population). It has now been proven that the pathology is more common. On average, celiac disease affects 0.5 to 1% of the population worldwide. However, not every patient has a severe gluten intolerance. The symptoms of "hidden celiac disease" are different from the acute forms.
Causes of gluten intolerance
The disease "celiac disease" (gluten enteropathy) manifests itself in persons with enzyme deficiency. The exact cause of this defect has not been established. However, there are several theories for the development of celiac disease.
First of all, this is the genetic basis of the pathology. Normally, the enzyme "gliadinaminopeptidase" is present in the intestine. If it is secreted in small quantities or is completely absent, celiac disease develops. In this case, the protein - gluten - is not completely digested. As a result, one of its fractions harms the body. Namely, it damages the walls of the thinintestines leading to atrophy. Based on this, the main factor in the occurrence of celiac disease is the body's rejection of gluten protein, intolerance. Symptoms of severe enzyme deficiency appear already in the first year of a baby's life. If this protein is still digested, but slowly, the first clinical signs of pathology may occur later (in childhood and even adulthood).
Besides this, there is another theory of the development of the disease. According to her, the cause of celiac disease lies in the pathological reaction of the immune system to gluten. Intolerance (symptoms depend on the age and severity of the disease) occurs due to an inadequate reaction of the intestinal mucosa to this protein. Scientists are inclined to believe that the cause of the disease is the combined effect of several factors.
Gluten intolerance: what are the symptoms in babies?
The clinical picture seen in gluten intolerance can be varied. That is why the symptoms of pathology are often associated with other ailments. As a result, adequate treatment for celiac disease is not carried out in many patients. The first sign, due to which enzyme deficiency can be suspected, is frothy loose stools with a fetid odor. This symptom is usually observed in infants after the introduction of complementary foods (porridge). Other manifestations of celiac disease in young children include:
- Greasy sheen of feces, diarrhea. It is difficult to wash baby clothes during washing.
- Protruding belly. This symptomcan be observed in other pathologies (for example, with rickets). Therefore, it is not specific and is taken into account only in the presence of other features.
- Slow weight gain. This should alert parents if this symptom developed after the introduction of complementary foods.
- Manifestations of atopic dermatitis: rashes on the skin of the face, peeling.
- Muscular hypotonia.
Given that such a clinical picture is typical for many pathologies, parents should pay attention to changes in the baby's condition after eating, and also find out if relatives have similar symptoms. After all, genetic predisposition is crucial in the development of celiac disease.
Gluten protein: intolerance (symptoms in children)
If in the first years of life the child did not eat foods containing gluten, then manifestations of celiac disease may occur later. In addition, due to frequent digestive problems in infants, doctors and parents do not always associate the first signs of the disease with the true cause - celiac disease. In these cases, the detection of pathology is delayed for several months and even years. How to suspect gluten intolerance? Symptoms in children are:
- Stunting. This symptom develops after 2 years.
- Characteristic appearance: large belly and thin lower limbs.
- Chronic anemia.
- History of frequent fractures (weak bones).
- Poor posture.
- Dry skinintegument and hair.
- Brittle nails.
- Dermatitis.
- Fatigue.
- Lethargy or, on the contrary, a manifestation of aggression.
- Tearfulness.
In addition to the listed symptoms, the main symptom of the disease remains - enterocolitis. It can occur constantly or occasionally - after eating food containing gluten. The main manifestations of enterocolitis are diarrhea (up to 5 times a day) and abdominal pain.
Symptoms of gluten intolerance in adults
In rare cases, the first signs of the disease occur in adulthood. In this case, the pathology has an atypical or latent course. The sudden onset of celiac disease is probably associated with a change in the nature of nutrition, exposure to adverse factors (if a person had a predisposition to the disease). Signs of a latent form of this pathology differ from typical manifestations. How to understand that gluten intolerance has arisen in adults? Symptoms are listed below:
- Manifestations of the nervous system. These include migraine, mood swings (episodes of depression, irritability).
- Dental problems. Celiac disease in adults is often accompanied by aphthous stomatitis, damage to tooth enamel, atrophic glossitis.
- Skin manifestations - dermatitis.
- Joint pain not associated with other pathologies.
- Nephropathy.
- Problems conceiving.
In most cases, adults have a combination of a typical clinical picture(enterocolitis) and extraintestinal manifestations. With a latent form, the disease can make itself felt only occasionally.
Diagnostic criteria for celiac disease
What symptoms of gluten intolerance suggest pathology? Most often, the assumption that a patient has developed celiac disease appears after the exclusion of other diseases of the digestive tract. An accurate diagnosis can be made through an immunological study. In the blood, antibodies to gliadin, reticulin and endomysium are determined. If positive, a bowel biopsy is performed.
Complications of gluten intolerance
Compliance with the diet allows you to live normally, despite the diagnosis of celiac disease. The symptoms of gluten intolerance are dangerous if left untreated. Improper nutrition in this disease can lead to the development of complications. Most often they occur with a long asymptomatic course of pathology. Among them, development is distinguished:
- Oncological diseases of the digestive tract.
- Autoimmune pathologies (hepatitis, thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma).
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
- Myasthenia gravis.
- Pericarditis.
Diet for gluten intolerance
In order for the signs of celiac disease to disappear, it is necessary to exclude foods containing gluten from the diet. Among them: confectionery and flour products (bread, pasta), sausages, sausages. You should also exclude some varieties of cereals (semolina, pearl barley,oatmeal). In addition, it is recommended not to eat mayonnaise, ice cream, sauces, beer, coffee, canned food. The diet of a person with celiac disease should include the following foods:
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Beans (beans, peas).
- Dairy products.
- Eggs.
- Fish and meat.
- Chocolate.
- Cereals: millet, corn and buckwheat.
Treatment of celiac disease in children and adults
With gluten intolerance in infants, a nursing mother should follow the diet. As complementary foods, children are given gluten-free cereals, casein mixtures. In some cases, symptomatic therapy is required. For this purpose, enzymatic preparations "Creon", "Pancreatin" are prescribed. It is also recommended to use probiotics (medicines "Linex", "Bifiform"). To get rid of diarrhea, a decoction of oak bark, drugs "Imodium", "Smektu" are prescribed. Before you buy a medicine, you need to pay attention to its composition. Some medicines contain gluten.
