Do you think these symptoms warrant investigation?

[duzzlightyearsmum]

DD, 21 months, has recurring diarrhoea as in she experiences bouts of it weekly sometimes accompanied by vomiting as well. We previously kept her dairy free on advice of HV but she has been on dairy for just under a year now with no change in symptoms. We have also tried gluten free and again the symptoms do not go away completely.

She also suffers with bad eczema, although this is now under control using a strict steroid regime. She is prone to illness as is often common with small toddlers but she does seem to always have 'something' ie not just a cold/teething but ear infections/scarlet fever.

She is also very small for her age and is dwarfed by younger children and children of the same age. A child of a similar age but who was born very prematurely is slightly larger than her. For reference she is just about in to 12-18 months clothing although some of it is still too big. Developmentally I have no concerns, she has plenty of words and physically is very capable even showing signs of readiness for potty training.

I feel that maybe these symptoms need further investigation but I can't tell if I'm overreacting or not?! She's not my first but DS showed none of these issues.

[duzzlightyearsmum]

Bump for the evening crowd

[DuckWaddle]

I always think go with your gut instinct and don't worry about whether the gp thinks you're over reacting. Have you seen anyone before about it? Keep a food and symptom diary. Things like coeliac can often hinder growth. Maybe you should ask for a coeliac test too?

[duzzlightyearsmum]

We have spoken to the GP and HV about it before but we're mostly brushed off. We did get referred to the allergy department at the hospital but they phoned me and basically said they wouldn't do anything at her age because she hadn't had a bad allergic reaction, that was when she was about 8/9 months old. Not sure if that's standard or not?

Will definitely start a detailed food/symptom diary. Thanks for reassurance I will make an appointment to see the GP.

[Starslubs]

If you're not happy, trust your instinct and pursue it. As a consultant once said to me: you're the one who lives with her symptoms.

[DuckWaddle]

You'll often find that GPs will see if things sort themselves out and will think more seriously about if a patient returns. I'd go with a clear picture of what you want- I.e I would want a referral to a paediatrician. As a kid I had recurring stomach problems and growth delays and, after getting very ill, was diagnosed as coeliac as an adult. If been to the gp as a child many times but they just gave me gaviscon!

[cestlavielife]

Is she growing at all ?
Did s growth or lack of was the route to her coeliac diagnosis.
Measure and record her growth ..where is she on. Charts ? Dd fell off and wasn't growing we got referral to growth class nix the initial slew of tests showed coeliac school and everything else fell into place
Ask for vblood test for coeliac

[cestlavielife]

But make sure she eating plenty of gluten pre testing
If not coeliac ask for referral to growth clinic they will track growth for six months and run range of basic tests

[duzzlightyearsmum]

She has grown ever so slightly in the last few months. For example though she put a skirt on the other day and it was a 3-6 months one and it fits her but mostly she has outgrown stuff that small. I haven't had her weighed in ages though tbh as she eats everything all the time and never stops so I just figured she was small. It's only more recently that I've started to think that perhaps her size is more indication that some isn't quite right. DS is small but nowhere near as small as her.

Will phone first thing Monday to make an appointment.

Why do you say give her plenty of gluten prior to testing as currently we try to keep it to a minimum without actively avoiding it if that makes sense.

[DuckWaddle]

I too are sooo much but never put on weight. Not that this in any way means she has coeliac but do get it checked.
She needs to eat gluten or the test may come back as a false negative.

[DuckWaddle]

Ate not are!!

[Mrsfancyfanjango]

You have just described my nearly 2.5yr old, minus the vommiting! She is also very small, 12-18 month clothes but was a healthy normal sized baby. Has eczema on her stomach that has recently occurred, frequently has the runs and always has done and gets frequent ear infections and has really waxy ears all the time. Whenever I've mentioned all this to a health professional I've been told she's just petite and keep an eye on what she eats but nothing particular triggers the runs. I'm thinking I should push for a referel after reading your post OP. I hope you have some answers soon

[duzzlightyearsmum]

Okay thanks for that. I think I'll write everything down before I go and see the GP so that I don't forget anything I wanted to say. I do have a horrible habit of forgetting to mention or ask something at the doctors.

Out of interest how far in advance of testing is the gluten relevant? Just so I know to keep her on as much as gluten as possible for it. Do find her eczema is worse with the gluten that's why we try to minimize.

Thanks for all your advice.

[duzzlightyearsmum]

Mrsfancyfanjango as unpleasant as it is for our children it always 'nice' to see someone else in the same position. Reassuring if nothing else! I'll definitely be pushing for further referrals/testing after all the advice I've been given.

[duzzlightyearsmum]

And yes DD was a healthy 8lb7oz at birth! And didn't double it by 6 months I do remember that.

[DuckWaddle]

Yes, that's a good idea about the list. I always forget things too and then kick myself afterwards!
Does your dd have a very restricted gluten diet? Is her eczema typical (the reason I ask is you can get a rash form of coeliac)?
I'm afraid I sont know how
Long she would need to be eating gluten properly for a test to work
Properly. You don't need to give her lots of gluten- just a normal amount is fine.

[cestlavielife]

Plenty of gluten for six weeks before testing coeliac UK site tells you how much I think,
Small size
Taking long time to grow out of clothes
Infections tummy issues skin issues
Tired weak
All coeliac symptoms
Also behaviour dd was v anxious eg bowl had to be the red one etc. more do than typical
not ,much variety of food choices

It s a simple blood test and the treatment if it is coeliac changes your child completely it is worth ruling in or out.

[cestlavielife]

www.coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-disease/getting-diagnosed/ Scroll, down its gluten in. More than one meal every day for six. Weeks

[Mrsfancyfanjango]

After the advice you have had OP, I have just looked into coeliac disease and my dd ticks a lot of the boxes. she fatigues very quickly and will sleep for 2-4 hours in the day then another 14 hours at night, hopefully I'm symptom spotting and its in my head but I'm definitely pushing for a referral on Monday. Thank you for posting OP, I completely agree as much as its horrible our children could be unwell it is nice to not be alone

[duzzlightyearsmum]

Thanks for the link very interesting. She already has gluten in at least one meal every day so easy enough to make sure she's been eating enough.

DD has very bad mood swings and temper tantrums as well,which someone told me can be a symptom of coeliac disease?! Either way I feel it has got to be worth getting it ruled in or out.

Not sure what the coeliac rash looks like but her eczema seem fairly typical and responds well to the treatment. She has been seen and is currently under the care of the eczema specialists at the local hospital.

[duzzlightyearsmum]

DD does not tire particularly easily though and has always been a dreadful sleeper until about a month ago! Otherwise the symptoms sounds quite familiar

[DuckWaddle]

Yes, they'd have definitely seen if it was the rash seen in some people with coeliac.
I hope you can get answers soon and both your children improve quickly. If they do have coeliac- it's a hassle but not a terrible thing to have.

[cestlavielife]

Yes. Mood swings and temper definitely...dd was different child once diagnosed and after few months strict gf.
But v important you get the test done before going gf