Chapter 8

Spare the biopsy, spoil the child

  • (Age: 68 years, male)

    I am a male, 68 year-old and was diagnosed last year (1999) by a small bowel biopsy confirming that I was a celiac. I was put on a gluten-free diet. It changed my life.

    Since I was a child, I remember having symptoms, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, sore bones, lactose intolerance, weight loss.

    I was referred by my family doctor to other doctors and had many test and x-rays but none ever looked for celiac disease.

    I am certain that I had celiac disease all my life.

  • Clinical Pearls

    • Many adults with celiac disease recall having symptoms during childhood.

    • In a child with abdominal cramps, diarrhea, sore bones, lactose intolerance and weight loss serologic screening for celiac disease should be considered and the diagnosis confirmed with a small intestinal biopsy. Serological testing is less reliable in children under five years of age.
Copyright © 2007 by Mohsin Rashid
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