Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people in which the ingestion of gluten causes damage to their small intestine. Celiac disease is hereditary and runs in families and can occur at any age. It is estimated that 1 in 100 people are affected by celiac disease worldwide and two and one-half million Americans are undiagnosed leading to long-term health complications.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye and when a person with celiac disease consumes gluten their body mounts an immune response. This leads to damage of the villi in the small intestine. Villi are small fingerlike projections responsible for the absorption of nutrients. When they are damaged by the ingestion of gluten, the nutrients from food cannot be absorbed leading to complications.
What are the symptoms of Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease affects people differently and can be hard to diagnose. There is a misperception that celiac disease causes only digestive symptoms, but in there are more than 200 symptoms of celiac disease which may occur in the digestive system or other parts of the body. Symptoms of celiac disease can develop in childhood or adulthood and the cause is still unknown.
Celiac disease can be diagnosed with a positive celiac disease blood test. Some people may have a negative blood test but then test positive on an intestinal biopsy which is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. You must be on a gluten containing diet to be accurately tested for celiac disease. Symptoms of celiac disease include the following:
- abdominal bloating and pain
- chronic diarrhea
- vomiting
- constipation
- pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
- iron-deficiency anemia
- weight loss
- fatigue
- irritability and behavioral issues
- dental enamel defects of the permanent teeth
- delayed growth and puberty
- short stature
- failure to thrive
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Do You Have Celiac Disease?
Adults are less likely to have digestive symptoms, with only one-third experiencing diarrhea. Adults are more likely to have the following:
- unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
- fatigue
- bone or joint pain
- arthritis
- osteoporosis or osteopenia (bone loss)
- liver and biliary tract disorders (transaminitis, fatty liver, primary sclerosing cholangitis, etc.)
- depression or anxiety
- peripheral neuropathy (tingling, numbness or pain in the hands and feet)
- seizures or migraines
- missed menstrual periods
- infertility or recurrent miscarriage
- canker sores inside the mouth
- dermatitis herpetiformis (itchy skin rash)
Treatment for Celiac Disease
The only treatment for Celiac Disease is to follow a gluten-free diet which includes no wheat, barley, or rye. Following a gluten-free lifestyle also includes avoiding skin care products and shampoos that contain gluten. This is where we can help. We can provide support in your transition to a gluten-free diet and look at other diet plans such as the specific carbohydrate diet when transitioning to a gluten-free diet alone is not leading to a reduction in symptoms.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14240-celiac-disease
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