Is her tummy too big?

[purpleflowers88]

My 20 month old's tummy is always really big and bloated.
Is this normal? I'm worried but don't know if the doctor would think I'm being stupid.

I would say that's swollen. Both my DC had tummies like that and both are coeliac... I remember one doctor mention my DS had a swollen tummy but then moved onto the issue I was there with him for. My DD had a big tummy before her diagnosis too, and as soon as we had her diagnosis, it went straight down.

My son looked like that from about 18 months. Diagnosed with coeliac disease at 2. He was totally negative on the blood test but his scope and biopsy were very positive.

How did you get them to do the scope without the positive blood test? Two of my DC have had symptoms of gluten intolerance since toddlers (bloated tummies, loose stools, tummy aches and are both v small for their age). The had blood tests at age 4, 6 & 8 which were negative for coeliac but were told we could try gluten-free diets. Both improved massively with the gluten removed. They're early secondary school age now and each time they've tried / accidentally had gluten, they've reacted quite badly but Drs say no chance of coeliac due to the blood test results and it's just an intolerance.

I don’t live in the UK so may not be relevant. Here you have to have a scope to get a diagnosis (the blood test alone isn’t enough). Our family doctor was convinced he had it (low iron tests, lifelong case of the runs, physique and more importantly, was born literally off the weight charts as a very big baby but by eighteen months was 20th percentile) and knew the rates of negative blood tests in coeliac children (it happens in some kids). She contacted the specialist and she has quite a reputation- specialists listen to her. He also had the typical coeliac toddler physique- rib bones sticking out, no bum but big bloated tummy, so another reason the specialist listened and did the scope.

According to this, approx 10% of coeliac blood tests are false negative. I’ve read somewhere else that the chance of a false negative is higher in children.

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-diagnosing-celiac-disease-not-always-a-one-step-process/

I would take her to the GP just to be sure there is no cause for concern. You have nice legs btw.

You've got some good answers already but, why were you taking a photo of your legs OP? (they're very nice legs by the way-and that sounds creepy and I don't mean it to 😂)

I have coeliac and that was my first symptom as a child a bloated stomach. Get her checked out

Thank you @Expat2 - very interesting

My wee one's tummy was exactly like this until she went dairy free. She also drooled alot which was put down to teething...forever, also stopped with dairy free.
That's definitely bloating and looks uncomfortable.