Coeliac disease can be easy to miss — and the symptoms aren’t always “classic” tummy pain or diarrhoea. In this episode of Hope & Histamine: The Paediatric Allergy Podcast, we break down what coeliac disease is, why it happens, and how to recognise it early, especially in children.
We cover:
- The common and hidden symptoms (from abdominal pain and bloating to fatigue, anaemia, mouth ulcers, headaches, and poor growth)
- Who should be tested — including children with family history, type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, or persistent unexplained symptoms
- The diagnostic pathway: blood tests (tTG-IgA, total IgA), what to do with IgA deficiency, and when an endoscopy/biopsy is considered
- Why you shouldn’t start a gluten-free diet before testing
- Practical, real-life guidance for living gluten-free: labels, cross-contamination, school meals, eating out, and staying nutritionally balanced
- Follow-up care: dietetic support, monitoring, and when to re-check symptoms and bloods
Whether you’re a parent trying to make sense of symptoms, or a clinician wanting a clear refresher, this is a calm, practical guide to coeliac disease diagnosis and gluten-free living.
Sources:
- Amil-Dias, J. and Polanco, I. (eds.) (2022) Advances in Celiac Disease: Improving Paediatric and Adult Care. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
- Catassi, C., Verdu, E. F., Bai, J. C. and Lionetti, E. (2022) ‘Coeliac disease’, The Lancet, 399, pp. 2413–2426. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00794-2.
- Lin, J. C. (no date) ‘Diagnosing paediatric coeliac disease’, Journal Club.
- Lindfors, K., Ciacci, C., Kurppa, K., Lundin, K. E. A., Makharia, G. K., Mearin, M. L., Murray, J. A., Verdu, E. F. and Kaukinen, K. (2019) ‘Coeliac disease’, Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 5, Article number: 3. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-018-0054-z.
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Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast and on this website is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition. Please don't ignore or delay seeking medical advice based on content from this podcast or website.
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