My daughter was diagnosed 6 months after my son was born. She was a BIG baby and always healthy until that point (4 years old and highly symptomatic). My son was smaller, pretty healthy but always in the 10-15% for his age. No apparent GI problems and we were told by our ped's GI (who we do like) to feed him a reglar diet including gluten until he is 2 (next month) and then test him. The only issue we've ever had with him is significant eczema. It has covered his arms and legs pretty much since birth-tried different detergents, soaps, lotions, etc.. Winter months are worse, but as long as I cover him with Aquaphor before bed, I can keep it under control. Also, he is very prone to diaper rashes--the bad ones that look like I set him bare-butt on a stove top. His pediatrician does not feel that these are celiac symptoms and wants to wait until the 2 year point (especially since he is consistantly growing). I do trust him, he was VERY quick to test and diagnose our daughter, but..... Just wondering if there was anyone else out there with these symptoms, yes celiac/no celiac. Husband and I both test negative as do multiple other family members.
Thanks,
-Rachelle

They could be sypmtoms. Why don't you get him tested now? He has to be eating gluten anyway to do the blood test! since he's going to be two in month anyway I would ask your ped if you can do the blood tests now.

I agree that testing him now is a good idea. Eczema is ALWAYS caused by food intolerances. All five of my oldest daughter's kids have intolerances. And they all had eczema until the cause was figured out.

My oldest granddaughter was absolutely covered in eczema from head to toe until the age of two. The cause was primarily dairy. Once she was taken off all dairy, the eczema cleared up completely. She is also obviously gluten intolerant.

The twin's eczema cleared up when my daughter stopped eating nightshade foods (she was breastfeeding them until they were 13 months old), as well as all dairy and soy.

Her youngest (now eleven months old) also breaks out in a rash when Sarah has any dairy products.

I would suggest to have the bloodwork done, and as soon as the blood is drawn, take him off dairy and gluten. The eczema will need a few weeks to clear up completely. But if those foods are the cause, you should see a change for the better within a week.

Don't substitute soy milk for dairy, it could cause new problems. Better substitutes are rice milk (not rice dream, it is not gluten-free because it has barley malt) or almond milk.

I would get him tested, but don't bother with the blood test. It is said to be very innaccurate in children or anyone who is not in a very progressed stage of Celiac. Try Enterolab. Or bare minimum, try the diet. That was mine and my daughter's best indicator.

My son was also prone to diaper rashes and had eczema. If your son is turning two next month then I would request that the doctor order the celiac panel and allergy tests for after his two year check up. Until then I would put him on a high gluten diet. If he's already on gluten, then in my opinion you might as well go for the official diagnosis and you can get blood allergy tests done at the same time to be sure that your son doesn't have any allergies to other foods. If the tests are negative and you still feel that he may be reacting to gluten, then I would try the diet.