Coeliac Disease Explained: Symptoms, Testing, and Going Gluten-Free

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 symptomsThe diagnostic pathway: blood tests (tTG-IgA, total IgA), what to do with IgA deficiency, and when an endoscopy/biopsy is consideredWhy you shouldn’t start a gluten-free diet before testingPractical, real-life guidance for living gluten-free: labels, cross-contamination, school meals, eating out, and staying nutritionally balancedFollow-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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