Celiac Disease: Everything you need to know

\n\nCeliac disease, is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.\n\nIf you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine’s lining and prevents it from absorbing some nutrients The intestinal damage often causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia, and can lead to serious complications.\n\nThere’s no cure for celiac disease — but for most people, following a strict glutenfree diet can help manage symptoms and promote intestinal healing.\n\n Symptoms\n\nThe signs and symptoms of celiac disease can vary greatly and differ in children and adults. Digestive signs and symptoms for adults include:\n

\n
• Diarrhea
\n
• Fatigue
\n
• Weight loss
\n
• Bloating and gas
\n
• Abdominal pain
\n
• Nausea and vomiting
\n
• Constipation
\n

\nHowever, more than half the adults with celiac disease have signs and symptoms unrelated to the digestive system, including:\n

\n
• Anemia, usually from iron deficiency
\n
• Loss of bone density (osteoporosis) or softening of bone (osteomalacia)
\n
• Itchy, blistery skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
\n
• Mouth ulcers
\n
• Headaches and fatigue
\n
• Nervous system injury, including numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, possible problems with balance, and cognitive impairment
\n
• Joint pain
\n
• Reduced functioning of the spleen (hyposplenism)
\n

\nChildren \n

\n
• Children with celiac disease are more likely than adults to have digestive problems, including:
\n
• Nausea and vomiting
\n
• Chronic diarrhea
\n
• Swollen belly
\n
• Constipation
\n
• Gas
\n
• Pale, foul-smelling stools
\n

\nThe inability to absorb nutrients might result in:\n

\n
• Failure to thrive for infants
\n
• Damage to tooth enamel
\n
• Weight loss
\n
• Anemia
\n
• Irritability
\n
• Short stature
\n
• Delayed puberty
\n
• Neurological symptoms, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, headaches, lack of muscle coordination and seizures
\n

\nCauses\n\nYour genes combined with eating foods with gluten and other factors can contribute to celiac disease, but the precise cause isn’t known. Infant-feeding practices, gastrointestinal infections and gut bacteria might contribute, as well. Sometimes celiac disease becomes active after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection or severe emotional stress.\n\nWhen the body’s immune system overreacts to gluten in food, the reaction damages the tiny, hairlike projections (villi) that line the small intestine. Villi absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat. If your villi are damaged, you can’t get enough nutrients, no matter how much you eat.\n\n Risk factors\n\nCeliac disease tends to be more common in people who have:\n

\n
• A family member with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis
\n
• Type 1 diabetes
\n
• Down syndrome or Turner syndrome
\n
• Autoimmune thyroid disease
\n
• Microscopic colitis (lymphocytic or collagenous colitis)
\n
• Addison’s disease
\n

\nComplications \n\nUntreated, celiac disease can cause:\n\n Malnutrition. This occurs if your small intestine can’t absorb enough nutrients. Malnutrition can lead to anemia and weight loss. In children, malnutrition can cause slow growth and short stature.\n\nBone weakening. Malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D can lead to a softening of the bone (osteomalacia or rickets) in children and a loss of bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis) in adults.\n\n Infertility and miscarriage. Malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D can contribute to reproductive issues.\n\nLactose intolerance. Damage to your small intestine might cause you abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating or drinking dairy products that contain lactose. Once your intestine has healed, you might be able to tolerate dairy products again.\n\n Diagnosis\n\nSerological testing to check TTG ( Tissue Transglutaminase levels )Normal is less than 12. If more than 250 then 97% chance of celiac disease\n\nEndoscopy with biopsy\n\nGenetic testing for human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8)\n\nTreatment \n\nA strict, lifelong gluten-free diet is the only way to manage celiac disease. Besides wheat, foods that contain gluten include:\n

\n
• Barley
\n
• Bulgur
\n
• Durum
\n
• Farina
\n
• Graham flour
\n
• Malt
\n
• Rye
\n
• Semolina
\n
• Spelt (a form of wheat)
\n
• Triticale
\n

\nA dietitian who works with people with celiac disease can help you plan a healthy gluten-free diet. Even trace amounts of gluten in your diet can be damaging, even if they don’t cause signs or symptoms.\n\nGluten can be hidden in foods, medications and nonfood products, including:\n

\n
• Modified food starch, preservatives and food stabilizers
\n
• Prescription and over-the-counter medications
\n
• Vitamin and mineral supplements
\n
• Herbal and nutritional supplements
\n
• Lipstick products
\n
• Toothpaste and mouthwash
\n
• Communion wafers
\n
• Envelope and stamp glue
\n
• Play dough
\n

\nRemoving gluten from your diet will gradually reduce inflammation in your small intestine, causing you to feel better and eventually heal. Children tend to heal more quickly than adults.\n\n