Does Your Child Have a Gluten Allergy/Sensitivity? Does It Sound like My Son?

Updated on September 18, 2011
S.R. asks from Clinton, MO
11 answers

This is going to be long so please keep reading!

Our son has been having digestive problems for nearly a year. Always loose foul stools, or diarrhea, daily for nearly a year. After noticing a pattern (or so I thought) I started cutting out his dairy because as an infant he was allergic to cows milk. It seemed to help for a month or two. I should mention he also has eczema. Once the loose stools and eczema started back up I made an appointment with his Doctor, who was reluctant to refer him to Children's for allergy testing. I had to pretty much demand it. Finally after a 3 month wait he had his appointment at Children's about 6 weeks ago. The only food he was tested for was Milk. The Doctor didn't feel like with his symptoms he needed to be tested for soy, corn, or gluten. The milk allergy was negative. She basically said that since he is so young (he will be 4 in January) they might not show up yet, and we could bring him back in 6 months to a year to test again. The only suggestion she had was since he has constant loose stools to take him back to his Doctor and have him test his stool for lactose intolerance. I have not done that yet because I feel like I will just get the run around again from his Doctor.

I am not trying to self diagnose, but as a Mother I know there is some food (atleast I think it's food) that is making him not feel well. I just can't figure out what it is. It is so discouraging that neither his Doctor or Allergist took me seriously. Sadly, changing his Doctor really isn't an option. He is the only one in our town (joys of small town living.) So someone please be webmd for me, and help me get an idea of what these symptoms could be!

Today for lunch we had pizza, 20 minutes after eating he was laying on the floor saying his belly hurt. Not screaming in pain, but he does often (3-4 times a week) say his belly hurts after eating. I haven't really paid attention to what food he has eaten when he says this, tomorrow I am going to start keeping a log of what he eats.

He has eczema like I said above, he only gets it on his butt down the back of his legs to his knees and on his cheeks. He doesn't constantly have it either. His face and chest always have small bumps on them, I wouldn't describe it as chicken skin, but in a certain light you can see them all over his skin. Some are bigger than others and bother him. He always burps and passes gas (usually very foul) and complains that his chest hurts, I think he gets heartburn but he can't really describe that feeling to me. He is starting to have more and more problems listening and he is getting very hyper and defiant. Now I know part of that is his age, but some days he is uncontrollable (like today.) He also has terrible sleeping problems.

Maybe all of these things that I am calling symptoms are really nothing, and I am just making a mountain out of a mole hill (is that the saying?) But like I said before, I just have that feeling that something is making him act out and have these digestion problems. Does anyone have any other ideas other than a gluten sensitivity? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.J.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds very similar to my DS. After bloodwork and stool tests, he did test a little high for wheat but no other gluten grains. Removing gluten (especially hidden gluten) changed him dramatically, for the better. I also give him a high quality dairy-free probiotic regularly (he's sensitive to dairy too). I have ulcerative colitis and it flares horribly if I touch gluten or dairy (and a host of other sensitivities). My other suggestion is to join the Yahoo group Foodlab. They can walk you thru any elimination diets or senstivity/allergy issues.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.A.

answers from Peoria on

I would try the gluten, I know it's hard we are going through it right now but the other thing along with that I would try would be food coloring. Gluten can hide in lots of different places and so can food coloring. Some children are also sensitive to artificial anything in their foods. My two boys are gluten, dairy and food coloring free so if you have any questions let me know.
For his eczema try a pro-biotic. It cleared my youngest son up and they even make gummies now that have the pro-biotics in them.

1 mom found this helpful

L.L.

answers from Rochester on

Well, my daughter has Celiac disease. She's 16 months old. She was diagnosed around 9 months old. Before diagnosis, she had CONSTANT diarrhea (several times a day or more) that was very bulky, pale colored, and greasy. She was almost always in pain, and would just lay on the floor and throw fits...inconsolable. She had...oh, there's a name for it...something like dermatitis herpatoformis (that's probably wrong) but basically, she had an eczema like rash behind her ears and in the crooks of her elbows that would just become open sores and bleed. It was awful. She was always fussy, always grumpy, never smiled, and quit developing, essentially...wasn't putting on ANY weight or growing any, wasn't walking, talking, teething, etc.

After removing gluten from her diet, it was literally a miracle change in my baby. All of a sudden, I had a happy child I'd never known. Her skin cleared up, except for one spot on her arm that I think is just too damaged. We're still working on it. She isn't in pain. She doesn't throw fits. She immediately started walking, talking, teething, growing, gaining weight, eating well, drinking well, laughing, playing, etc...

...and for months, I just thought I had, honestly, a difficult baby that I was SO concerned about because I just knew something was wrong.

Why bother with the doctors? You can do a gluten free test on your own...simple remove all the gluten. I'll warn you, though, that it will be difficult at his age and that gluten is hidden in ALL kinds of foods. If you'd like a list that I've made myself of all the foods my child can and can't have, message me. I've done extensive research for her sake, because she is so sensitive, and we do not mess up her diet. I am also on her diet because I am still nursing.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.K.

answers from New York on

Take him to a pediatric gastroenterologist. It might not be allergies. Could
be something else; colitis, etc.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K..

answers from Phoenix on

I don't have any experience with this, but if you're not satisfied with how your son's doctor is addressing your concerns, I would find another doctor.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.O.

answers from San Francisco on

It sounds a lot like Celiac to me.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from Houston on

I was just tested for food SENSITIVITIES, not allergies. An allergy is a response to something eaten within 4 hours. A sensitivity is a response to a food between 4 hours and four days. Check out this website, they can help your son get tested. www.betterhealthusa.com
Maybe try an allergist in a different town, even if you have to drive a while. Good for you for trying to find out what's causing him to feel bad! I'm sure you won't stop searching until you find out what it is :)
ETA: I was tested for Celiacs. Negative. But I have a wheat sensitivity that causes the same symptoms.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Here are some resources:

The following books are very helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Your-Childs-Food-Allergies-Hyperact...

http://www.amazon.com/Celiac-Disease-Hidden-Epidemic-eboo...

http://www.amazon.com/Alternative-Approach-Allergies-Clin...

http://www.amazon.com/Yeast-Syndrome-Identify-Yeast-Relat...

http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Eating-Your-Child-Connection/...
http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-conduct-food-aller...

Dianne Craft specializes in dietary issues and children. Her books and cds on the topic of allergies and sensitivities are very eye opening. She also has a blog that is updated regularly with articles on the topic. See;

www.diannecraft.com (blog)
http://stores.diannecraft.org/Categories.bok?category=Aud... (lecture on nutrition and allergies)

You can purchase allergy panels for home use online through independent medical suppliers/labs for a significant fee if you can't find a different doctor. You administer them at home and send them to the lab for analysis and results. See products available at the bottom of link page:

http://www.healthremedies.com/food_allergy_test.html

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

My kids are allergic to gluten but they don't have Celiac's disease. You know your child. I went round and round with doctors about my kids food allergies. I knew they had them. I had to figure it out myself because doctors just wanted to medicate them and wouldn't do allergy tests. They were allergic to dairy, gluten, corn and a few other things. I found a chiropractor who would muscle test them for allergies and sure enough, just what I suspected, they were allergic to what I thought they were all along. He was able to clear most of them with acupuncture and they are doing much better. Your son sounds just like what I went through with my kids. The best thing to do is cut these things out of his diet and make note how he feels. If he gets sick when he eats something, write it down. Keep a journal. You know when something isn't right with your son. Don't let doctors make you feel like you're making a mountain out of a mole hill. If they can't fix it with medication or surgery, they really don't know what to do. Do your own research and investigate for yourself. I wish you the best!

L.C.

answers from Houston on

I have no idea if he has an allergy or gluten sensitivity, but the eczema sounds exactly like what my daughter had. Under her behind, back of legs and knees. She sat on a rubber bath mat until she was 3 while taking baths and we finally figured out it was a latex sensitivity (non-allergic). We removed the bath mat and no more eczema (actually dermatitis). She still gets rashes every now and then if she sweats and sits on a plastic chair or if I don't wash new clothes before she wears them. She had been tested for food allergies and it was negative. Not an expert, but try lactose free milk for a while and see if that helps the digestive problems. Hope this helps and if not, that you find some answers soon!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

My friend and her son have celiac's disease, and her #1 symptom when eating gluten is unbelievable stomach pain, like shards of glass.

Your best bet woud absolutely be to keep a detailed food log with symptoms for a week or so. Then if you suspect something, cut out that one thing. If symptoms ease after a few days, then you have your culprit. If not, try to eliminate something else.

They can test for allergies but they can't really test for "sensitivities," that's something youll discover on your own.

Good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions