Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease in children

Jennifer, age 2 years, is being seen for her regular 2-year well child visit. You note her weight is only at the 5% and has been dropping percentiles over the past year When you ask her mother about Jennifer's diet, she reports Jennifer is a "picky eater" and often complains of a "stomach ache." Her mother reports her stomach looks "bloated. " Steven, age 7 years, is brought into the clinic because of recurrent abdominal pain with occasional constipation or diarrhea. Steven's mother had been told in the past that he probably had "irritable bowel syndrome" but changes in his diet, occasional use of a laxative, and relaxation techniques have not improved his symptoms. Rebecca, age 12 years, is brought into your clinic because her mother has recently learned that two first cousins have been diagnosed with celiac disease. She is wondering if Rebecca should be screened for this condition since she has heard it runs in families.