gluten allergy and lack of symptoms

Question

Hello
In the tests ImuPro 300 assessing latent allergy type III allergy to gluten and milk was detected in my 9-year-old son. So far he hasn't had any symptoms. Does it make any sense to introduce the diet? (I introduced the diet 3 weeks ago, but since a week he has diarrhoea, which was not present before).

Answer

Dear Questioner,

According to information given in your question, your son hasn't had any symptoms so far. Therefore why the test were performed? According to standards eliminatory diet shouldn't be introduced only on the basis of tests' results. Intolerance of a given product should be confirmed on the basis of elimination-provocation test each time. In this test we temporarily eliminate form the child's diet „suspected” product and then assess, if the resolution of previously seen sympotms is observed. Afterwards we introduce again the „suspected” product to child's diet, starting with small amounts, and observe the child. Repeated manifestation of symptoms confirms intolerance of this product.
Gluten intolerance is not diagnosed on the basis of allergy tests, but on the basis of immunologic tests (EmA and tTG antibodies) and the results of histopathological examination of the samples taken during gastroscopy from the small intestine (more precisely – from its first part – duodenum). Only on the basis of a complex assessment of these tests' results and the clinical symptoms observed in a patient doctor decides about introduction (or not) of gluten-free diet.
With kind regards,
dr med. Natalia Kobelska-Dubiel
dr med. Brygida Targońska

30.08.2011