Symptoms of celiac disease usually start when the child first eats food with gluten. Your child may have:
- Chronic diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Gas
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Fatigue
- Irritability
A few children with celiac disease don’t have these symptoms, and the condition can go undiagnosed for years. However, the damage to the small intestine makes it difficult or impossible for their body to absorb the nutrients they need to grow normally. Eventually, celiac disease can lead to weight loss, slowed growth or failure to thrive. It can also damage dental enamel — white, yellow or brown spots on the teeth is sometimes the first sign of celiac disease.
Celiac disease can also lead to these complications:
- Iron deficiency (anemia)
- Thin bones or fractures
- Dermatitis herpetiformis (a chronic, itchy rash)
