What is Celiac Disease?
A hereditary autoimmune disease, celiac damages the villi of the small intestine and disrupts the absorption of certain nutrients from the body. Simply put, the body is attacking itself.
A lifelong autoimmune intestinal disease, it is found in individuals who are genetically susceptible. The harm to the mucosal interior of the small intestine is caused by an immunologically toxic response to the eating gluten. Eating gluten is what triggers the celiac disease and gluten can be found in barley, wheat and rye. When someone with celiac disease eats products with gluten in them, the small intestines, specifically the finger-like villi become damaged and the body can no longer process nutrients into the bloodstream.
One of the tests for celiac disease is if you have Zöliakie dermatitis herpetiformis then you have celiac disease. The doctor can stick a thin needle into your intestines to draw a small piece of tissue (a biopsy) to confirm you have celiac disease. There are also some blood work you must have completed before starting a gluten-free diet.
Despite restrictions to their diets, people with celiac disease, sometimes called gluten-sensitive enteropathy, can eat a well-balanced diet of delicious and healthy foods. Some parents who are just beginning the journey of celiac disease may feel it impossible to maintain this lifestyle but you must remain gluten-free in order to keep the disease under control and feel better. Some of the common symptoms of celiac disease are overall fatigue, irritability and depression.
Some parents with a young child, especially those in school, may find it difficult at first to maintain such a lifestyle as gluten-free, but it can be done.
If you have a child in school with celiac disease, make sure you talk with the teacher and school nurse regarding your child’s health. Give them each a copy of dietary restrictions and perhaps give the teacher a bag of gluten-free candy for special occasions when your child can’t eat the cupcakes or birthday cake. Bring them a note from the doctor stating your child’s history with celiac disease and how important it is that he or she be monitored (depending on their age) during lunch time so there is no switching of foods or sampling of other children’s lunches. And under no circumstance should your child be restricted from using the restrooms. Celiac disease can cause cramping, diarrhea and bloating and your child may need to go more frequently than others. You might want to have the teacher and your child comes up with a ‘code word’ instead of having to ask to use the restroom all the time. This will make it less embarrassing for your child and more convenient for the teacher.
Since celiac disease is considered by the Americans with Disabilities to be a disability, the USDA Child Nutrition Division who overseas the school lunch programs, require that all participating schools be able to provide substitutions for any student who has a food allergy or intolerance which qualifies as a disability. This means the school has to provide your son or daughter with a meal they can eat, so you don’t have to pack their lunches every day and your Kalorienarme child will not feel left out.