My six year old has edema in both hands and abdominal pain, help

[schnoody]

My six year old daughter has swollen little hands every morning when she wakes, she c/o tightness and stiffness in them and mild pain. She also has frequent stomach aches, pointing to her upper abdominal cavity. Her immune system is very low, she catches everything that flies by her.  Her pediatrician has run several test on her but can find nothing.  Any body have answers, please help!!!!!!!!ty in advance!!!

[PlateletGal]

Hi schnoody,

Does this sound familiar? If so, you may want to talk to your physician about testing your child for celiac disease (intolerance to wheat/gluten).



Celiac disease in children:

Symptoms are absent in children until they eat food containing gluten. The child fails to thrive; begins to pass pale, malodorous, bulky stools; and suffers painful abdominal bloating. Iron-deficiency anemia develops, and if hypoproteinemia is severe enough, edema appears. Celiac disease is strongly suspected in a pale, querulous child, with wasting of the buttocks and a potbelly, who has an adequate diet (thus ruling out protein-calorie malnutrition or kwashiorkor).

source:

http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section3/chapter30/30c.jsp

[schnoody]

Thanks for your comment!! I just looked at that disease a few minutes ago.  She does have the pot belly, even though she is so tiny, and she has an excellent appetite.  Is there test for this illness???

[PlateletGal]

Hi Schnoody,

There is a blood test, but your child must not discontinue any wheat products for the results to be accurate.

There is also the elimination diet that some physicians' recommend, but it takes longer. Your child could go without wheat products for at least 2 weeks (it is a VERY strict diet... whey, wheat, rye, barley - all no no's) and see if her symptoms clear up.

Hope this is your answer !!!

[PlateletGal]

P.S. - I would prefer the labwork over the elimination diet, only because it is so easy for someone to eat wheat and not realize it. Eating the smallest amount of gluten would affect the results.

[schnoody]

Thanks again, and what is the name of the blood test that she would need to have taken????

[PlateletGal]

Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTGA)
IgA anti-endomysium antibodies (AEA)

Here is a good link with additional information:

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm#4

If your child does have an intolerance to gluten, there are many great organizations, including the Celiac Disease Foundation (www.celiac.org), that can help you with her diet. The good news is, this disease is treatable!