Question from Karin:
I want to test my 5-year-old son for gluten allergy due to symptoms. He is currently still eating gluten.
Answer:
Celiac disease and gluten intolerance are two terms often used interchangeably, but they do not mean exactly the same thing.
What is the difference between Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system reacts to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. This leads to damage to the small intestinal wall and can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss. Celiac disease can only be diagnosed with blood tests and a biopsy of the small intestine.
Gluten intolerance, is a general term used to describe a wide range of conditions in which a person exhibits symptoms after eating foods containing gluten.
In short, celiac disease is a specific autoimmune disease caused by gluten, while gluten intolerance is a general term that can be used to describe a wide range of conditions caused by gluten or other substances in food.
What tests can you do to make the right diagnosis?
1) a DNA test :
https://www.bloodtesting.nl/igene-dna-basic.html
or a test that measures antibodies testing certain types of food
https://www.bloodtesting.nl/bloedonderzoek/allergie/wat-mag-ik-eten/
can be conclusive to see if it is a gluten intolerance.
2) For Celiac disease, it is best to do this test:
https://www.bloodtesting.nl/coeliakie-glutenallergie-iga-en-igg-transglutamine.html
With this test as a supplement:
https://www.bloodtesting.nl/i-fabp-coeliakie.html
you can also take this test
https://www.bloodtesting.nl/amylase-en-lipase-in-bloed-alvleesklier.html
3) Once you find out the cause you can do this test for your complementary practitioner:
https://www.bloodtesting.nl/dysbiose-organische-zurenscreening-rp.html
so that targeted work can be done on the cause of your symptoms.
Minors?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get minors poked at a regular clinic.
This requires a referral from your doctor.
We do not provide blood tests for minors and the incapacitated without a referral from a physician or therapist, this is because we follow the guidelines of the Health Council;
Additional protection in connection with a health check is generally appropriate if;
1. It is untargeted or broadly focused on a variety of abnormalities and there is a lack of knowledge including clinical sensitivity and specificity.
2. A complex follow-up process is involved due to (combinations of) follow-up diagnostics, therapy, aftercare and counseling.
3. There is a risk of disproportionate invasion of privacy.
4. (Also) Children and the incapacitated belong to the target group.
5. It is insufficiently proportionate to the health problem (for example, too extensive or too invasive) or if there are clearly better or less harmful alternatives.
6. There may be major social consequences, such as follow-up costs and/or displacement effects.
7. It focuses (directly or indirectly) on serious diseases or abnormalities for which no treatment or prevention is possible.
Without a doctor's referral letter, only the urine test (SIBO) and saliva test iGene) remain as options for minors.