Celiac disease and food allergies are often confused, but they are very different.

Today, Harvard’s pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Dascha Weir joins the show to explain the difference between celiac disease, gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy.

Dr. Weir also answers many questions regarding common symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research of celiac disease. Questions include:

• What is the difference between celiac disease, gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity and a wheat allergy?


• What are signs and symptoms that parents should look for if they feel their child might have celiac? Are there hallmarks to the disease?


• What age does the disease commonly manifest itself?


• How is it diagnosed?


• Once diagnosed, how is the disease managed?


• Do children/adults ever outgrow celiac?


• What are the long-term consequences of untreated celiac?


• Does celiac run in families?


• Is celiac happening more or is it being diagnosed more?


• What research is happening to address treatment and cure?

Celiac Disease Resources

• Celiac disease: 5 things parents need to know (Boston Children’s Hospital)


• Celiac Disease Program & Support Group  (Celiac Kids Connection)


• Celiac Disease Symptoms in Children (Beyond Celiac)


• Celiac Disease in Children (Celiac Disease Foundation)

About Dr. Weir

Dascha C. Weir is a board certified pediatric gastroenterologist with expertise in Celiac Disease in children. She is the associate director of the Celiac Disease Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and serves as the medical advisor of Celiac Kids Connection, a celiac support group for children with celiac disease and their families. She is also on the executive committee of the Harvard Medical School Celiac Research Program.

Originally a Boston area native, she graduated from Case Western School of Medicine in 2000. She returned to Boston and completed her training in Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center. After finishing her pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, she joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition there and is involved both in clinical care and celiac related clinical research. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and settling into a good book.

Contact Dr. Weir or the Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition.

The post Celiac Disease and Food Allergies, What’s the difference? appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.