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Pediatric/Adult Symptoms of Celiac Disease

The pediatric/adult symptoms and diagnosis of celiac disease varies among individuals, as children and adults in celiac clinical studies have shown.

Celiac disease affects people differently. Some people develop symptoms as children, others as adults. Symptoms may or may not occur in the digestive system. For example, one person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person has irritability or depression. In fact, irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children. We distinguish between classical symptoms and a more recent recognition of Celiac disease by secondary diseases due to undiagnosed CD.

Classical symptoms in adults

Recurring abdominal bloating and pain
Chronic diarrhea
Weight loss
Pale, foul-smelling stool
Unexplained anemia (low count of red blood cells)
Gas
Bone pain
Behavior changes
Muscle cramps
Fatigue
Pain in the joints
Tingling numbness in the legs (from nerve damage)
Missed menstrual periods (often because of excessive weight loss)
Painful skin rash, called dermatitis herpetiformis
Pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthus ulcers

Classical symptoms in children

Delayed growth
Failure to thrive as infants
Seizures
Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel
Earaches

Anemia, delayed growth, and weight loss are signs of malnutrition--not getting enough nutrients. Malnutrition is a serious problem for anyone, but particularly for children because they need adequate nutrition to develop properly.

Children and Adults in Celiac Clinical Studies

Some people with celiac disease may not have symptoms. The undamaged part of their small intestine is able to absorb enough nutrients to prevent symptoms. However, they may suffer secondary diseases such as:

Arthritis
Osteoporosis
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Thyroid disease
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Type 1 diabetes
Liver disease
Collagen vascular disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sjogren's syndrome

Children and adults in celiac clinical studies demonstrate that the connection between celiac and these diseases may be genetic, but the pediatric/adult symptoms and diagnosis of celiac disease may be different among family members.