What is gluten? Intolerance: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are common in both adults and children. They include various eating disorders, inflammation of the organs (gastritis, enteritis, cholecystitis), surgical pathologies (appendicitis, curvature of the intestines). In addition to the known gastrointestinal diseases, there are less common diseases - ailments associated with enzyme deficiency. An example is celiac disease. Symptoms and causes of gluten intolerance have been studied for a long time, but have not yet been fully elucidated. In most cases, parents face this disease for the first time, since its manifestations begin already from infancy. Despite the serious consequences that can develop due to celiac disease, with the right approach, pathology is not considered a sentence.

Gluten intolerance - what is it?

Gluten protein is found in many foods. A large concentration of this substance is present in wheat and other cereals. Because of this, the dishes that have these components in their composition lead to the development of characteristic symptoms in people suffering from celiac disease. Information about this pathology appeared in ancient times. Then this illness was called "intestinal disease". In the 17th century, celiac disease was actively studied. Similar manifestations in young children were described. Only in the middle of the 20 th century it became known that the disease causes the use of protein "gluten."

Intolerance, the symptoms of which are different in children and adults, resembles the clinical picture of chronic intestinal infections, enterocolitis, pancreatitis. Earlier it was thought that such an ailment is rare (1 person per 3 thousand population). At present, it is proved that pathology is more common. On average, 0.5 to 1% of the world's population suffers from celiac disease. Nevertheless, not every patient has expressed gluten intolerance. Symptoms of "hidden celiac disease" differ from acute forms.

Causes of Gluten Intolerance

The disease "celiac disease" (gluten enteropathy) is manifested in people with enzyme deficiency. The exact causes of this defect are not established. However, there are several theories of the development of gluten.

First of all, this is the genetic justification of pathology. Normally, the enzyme "gliadamino-peptidase" is present in the intestine. If it is excreted in small numbers or completely absent, celiac disease develops. The protein is not fully digested, gluten. As a result, one of its fractions harms the body. Namely, it damages the walls of the small intestine, leading to atrophy. Proceeding from this, the main factor of the emergence of celiac disease is the rejection by the body of the protein of gluten, intolerance. Symptoms with pronounced enzyme deficiency appear already in the first year of life of the baby. If this protein is still digested, but slowly, the first clinical signs of pathology may occur later (in childhood and even in adulthood).

In addition, there is another theory of the development of the disease. According to her, the cause of celiac disease lies in the pathological reaction of immunity to gluten. Intolerance (the symptoms depend on the age and severity of the disease), this is due to an inadequate reaction of the intestinal mucosa to this protein. Scientists tend to the fact that the cause of the disease in the combined effect of several factors.

Gluten intolerance: how are the symptoms manifested in infants?

The clinical picture observed with gluten intolerance can be varied. That is why the symptoms of pathology are often associated with other ailments. As a result, adequate treatment of celiac disease is not performed in many patients. The first sign, because of which it is possible to suspect enzyme deficiency, is a foamy liquid stool with a fetid odor. This symptom is usually observed in infants after the introduction of complementary foods (porridge). Other manifestations of celiac disease in young children include:

1. Bold shine of feces, diarrhea. During washing, baby clothes are difficult to wash.
2. Bulging belly. This symptom can be observed in other pathologies (for example, in rickets). Therefore, it is not specific and is taken into account only if there are other signs.
3. Slow gain in weight. This should alert the parents if the symptom developed after the introduction of complementary foods.
4. Manifestations of atopic dermatitis: rashes on the skin of the face, peeling.
5. Muscular hypotension.

Given that this clinical picture is typical for many pathologies, parents should pay attention to changes in the state of the baby after eating, and also to find out whether there are similar symptoms in relatives. After all, genetic predisposition is crucial in the development of celiac disease.

Gluten protein: intolerance (symptoms in children)

If in the first years of life the child did not eat foods containing gluten, then manifestations of celiac disease may occur later. In addition, because of the frequent problems with digestion in infants, doctors and parents do not always associate the first signs of the disease with the true cause - celiac disease. In these cases, the pathology is delayed for several months and even years. How to suspect gluten intolerance? Symptoms in children are as follows:

1. The lag in growth. This sign develops after 2 years.
2. A characteristic appearance: a large belly and thin lower limbs.
3. Chronic anemia.
4. Frequent fractures in the anamnesis (weakness of bone tissue).
5. Uneven posture.
6. Dryness of skin and hair.
7. Fragility of nails.
8. Dermatitis.
9. Increased fatigue.
10. Lethargy or, on the contrary, a manifestation of aggression.
11. Tearfulness.

In addition to these symptoms, the main symptom of the disease is the enterocolitis. It can take place constantly or sporadically - after eating a meal containing gluten. The main manifestations of enterocolitis are diarrhea (up to 5 times a day) and abdominal pain.

Symptoms of gluten intolerance in adults

In rare cases, the first signs of the disease occur in adulthood. In this pathology has an atypical or latent flow. The sudden occurrence of celiac disease is probably associated with a change in the nature of nutrition, the effect of adverse factors (if a person had a predisposition to the disease). The signs of the latent form of this pathology differ from typical manifestations. How to understand that there was gluten intolerance in adults? Symptoms are listed below:

1. Manifestations from the nervous system. These include migraines, mood changes (episodes of depression, irritability).
2. Dental problems. Celiac disease in adults is often accompanied by aphthous stomatitis, damage to tooth enamel, atrophic glossitis.
3. Skin manifestations are dermatitis.
4. Pain in the joints, not associated with other pathologies.
5. Nephropathy.
6. Problems with conception.

In most cases, adults have a combination of a typical clinical picture (enterocolitis) and extraintestinal manifestations. With the latent form, the disease can only occur occasionally.

Diagnostic criteria for celiac disease

What symptoms of gluten intolerance allow you to suspect a pathology? Most often, the assumption that the patient developed celiac disease appears after excluding other diseases of the digestive tract. An accurate diagnosis can be made through an immunological study. In the blood, antibodies to gliadin, reticulin and endomisis are determined. If the result is positive, an intestinal biopsy is performed.

Complications of gluten intolerance

Compliance with diet allows you to live normally, despite the diagnosis of "celiac disease". Symptoms of gluten intolerance are dangerous if you do not take any measures. Improper nutrition with this disease can lead to complications. Most often they occur with a long asymptomatic course of pathology. Among them, development is singled out:

1. Oncological diseases of the digestive tract.
2. Autoimmune pathologies (hepatitis, thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma).
3. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
4. Myasthenia gravis.
5. Pericarditis.

Gluten intolerance diet

That the signs of celiac disease have disappeared, it is necessary to exclude from the diet products containing gluten. Among them: confectionery and flour products (bread, pasta), sausages, sausages. Also, some grades of cereals (mangrove, perlovka, oatmeal) should be excluded. In addition, it is recommended not to eat mayonnaise, ice cream, sauces, beer, coffee, canned food. The diet of a person suffering from celiac disease should include the following foods:

1. Fruits and vegetables.
2. Beans (beans, peas).
3. Milk products.
4. Eggs.
5. Fish and meat.
6. Chocolate.
7. Cereals: millet, corn and buckwheat.

Treatment of celiac disease in children and adults

With gluten intolerance in infants, a lactating mother must follow a diet. As complementary foods, children are given gluten-free cereals, casein mixtures. In some cases, symptomatic therapy is required. For this purpose, the enzyme preparations "Creon", "Pancreatin" are prescribed. It is also recommended to use probiotics (medicines "Lineks", "Bifiform"). To get rid of diarrhea, appoint a decoction from the bark of oak, preparations "Imodium", "Smektu". Before you buy a medicine, you need to pay attention to its composition. Some medicines contain gluten.