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A lifelong autoimmune intestinal disorder, found in individuals who are genetically susceptible. Damage to the mucosal surface of the small intestine is caused by an immunologically toxic reaction to the ingestion of gluten and interferes with the absorption of nutrients. Celiac Disease (CD) is unique in that a specific food component, gluten, has been identified as the trigger. Gluten is the common name for the offending proteins in specific cereal grains that are harmful to persons with celiac disease.
What are the symptoms of celiac disease?
Failure to thrive in infants
Pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthous ulcers
Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel
Itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
Celiac disease may also present itself in less obvious ways, including irritability or depression, anemia, stomach upset, joint pain, muscle cramps, skin rash, mouth sores, dental and bone disorders (such as osteoporosis), and tingling in the legs and feet (neuropathy).
Symptoms of celiac disease can occur at any time in a child’s life. Some kids experience symptoms the first time they are exposed to gluten, while others develop symptoms later in life after consuming gluten products without a problem for years.
What causes celiac disease?
The destruction of the inner lining of the small intestine in celiac disease is caused by an immunological (allergic) reaction to gluten in the diet that inflames and destroys the inner lining of the small intestine. There is evidence that this reaction is partially genetic and inherited.
European decent -It has been discovered that the highest rates of celiac disease are found in Western Europe and in areas where Europeans have emigrated including North America and Australia.
Diagnosis
There are several tests that can be used to assist in diagnosis. The level of symptoms may determine the order of the tests, but all tests lose their usefulness if the patient is already taking a gluten-free diet. Intestinal damage begins to heal within weeks of gluten being removed from the diet, and antibody levels decline over months. For those who have already started on a gluten-free diet, it may be necessary to perform a re-challenge with 10 g of gluten (four slices of bread) per day over 2–6 weeks before repeating the investigations.
Treatment of Celiac Disease
Improvement in symptoms begins within days of starting the gluten-free diet. Complete healing of the small intestine, meaning the villi are intact and working, usually occurs in 3-6 months, although it may take up to 2 years in older persons.
Initial treatment
When celiac disease is diagnosed, you should immediately adopt a strict gluten-free diet. Eating even the smallest amount of gluten can cause symptoms such as weight loss and diarrhea. You may be advised to temporarily avoid milk or milk products until your intestine heals, at which time you usually can gradually reintroduce them.
My doctor thinks that I might have Celiac disease, but I can’t get tested until next week. I’m wondering if it seems likely that I have it, since I only have a few of the symptoms. I am 15, and I looked up the list for children’s symptoms-
abdominal bloating and pain
chronic diarrhea
vomiting
constipation
pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
weight loss
I only have abdominal bloating and pain, and diarrhea that I only have off and on, so I don’t know if that’s really chronic.
For the adult symptoms-
unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
fatigue
bone or joint pain
arthritis
bone loss or osteoporosis
depression or anxiety
tingling numbness in the hands and feet
seizures
missed menstrual periods
infertility or recurrent miscarriage
canker sores inside the mouth
an itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
I’ve only had bone and joint pain (but that is supposedly from my severely flat feet, which my foot doctor is having me see a surgeon about, so I don’t know if that counts for these symptoms), anxiety, and irregular menstrual periods. I don’t know if they’re neccessarily missed, only one or two in the past year that I’ve actually missed, but I’ve had my period for about three years or so, and they are still irregular.
I know you can’t know if I have the disease, but I’m curious- just from viewing my symptoms, does it sound like I have Celiac disease? I have been having stomach pain after I eat dinner for the past three weeks or so. At the beginning of the year, I was having stomach pain, but my doctor gave me lactaid pills and it seemed to help, but now the doctor says that lactose intolerance can be caused by Celiac disease. Initially we thought that I might have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because my Aunt has that, but my doctor didn’t think it was that, he was more worried about Celiac, and on the internet it says that Celiac can be mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Just judging the symptoms, is it more likely that I have Celiac disease, or more likely that I don’t? What I mean is, does it sound like I have Celiac disease, even though you can’t know from just the symptoms?
Diet can reverse celiac damage
Q: I am a 66-year-old female. After reading your column about celiac disease a year ago, I went to my doctor with the article in hand. She advised me that I had nothing to lose, as I had been sick for a while. I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance in 1990, but still had severe stomach pain. After reading your column, I went on a gluten-free diet and have been on it for a year. I am a new …
Read more on The Herald News
I was just diagnosed with celiac, the diet is difficult to follow. Any help with brand name soaps, shampoos, snacks, soups, cereals, etc. I also have osteoporosis, Parkinsens and anemia. Help!
Ok where do I start. For about 2 weeks I was experiencing some brown blood which I assumed to be my period? I finally came online and saw sometimes is could mean pregnancy but it means it’s a tubal pregnancy or miscarriage. Thing is I had my period, just brown and occasionally only spots of red for almost three weeks! I let that go. I’ve been having sharp pains in my left and right sides and my stomach is hard as a rock and the area below the “gut” and above the vagina is hard(I’ve heard this is linked to pregnancy?) I’ve also had extreme bloating feelings and gas along with diarrhea. And as well as weird cravings and bursts of hunger, but when I eat about 15 min later prob not even I’m having sharp pains. These are all symptoms of pregnancy I’m sure we’ll all agree. I’ve also researched some blogs with people who had the extreme bloating and sharp pains and 98% of them were pregnant.
But, get this. My aunt was diagnosed with Celiac disease(gluten free diet, will eat away your small intestine)and it’s hereditary but she doesn’t even know who she could have got it from. Well let me just copy and paste symptoms I’ve found linked with it, I’ll mark it with * If I have it.
What are the symptoms of celiac disease?
Symptoms of celiac disease vary from person to person. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system or in other parts of the body. Digestive symptoms are more common in infants and young children and may include
abdominal bloating and pain *
chronic diarrhea *
vomiting *only just today but sick feelings I’ve ignored too
constipation *NO*
pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool *NO*
weight loss *NO, weight gain thats why i’m leaning toward pregnancy
Adults are less likely to have digestive symptoms and may instead have one or more of the following:
unexplained iron-deficiency anemia *NO*
fatigue*NO*
bone or joint pain *
arthritis*NO*
bone loss or osteoporosis
depression or anxiety *OH YES*
tingling numbness in the hands and feet *NO*
seizures*NO*
missed menstrual periods *Not sure yet, last one was brown
infertility or recurrent miscarriage *Hope not
canker sores inside the mouth *NO!*
an itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis * NO*
People with celiac disease may have no symptoms but can still develop complications of the disease over time. Long-term complications include malnutrition—which can lead to anemia, osteoporosis, and miscarriage, among other problems—liver diseases, and cancers of the intestine.
Also, Celiac disease is both a disease of malabsorption—meaning nutrients are not absorbed properly—and an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Celiac disease is also known as celiac sprue, non-tropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Celiac disease is genetic, meaning it runs in families*MY AUNT*
Sometimes the disease is triggered—or becomes active for the first time—after surgery, pregnancy*wow it can become apparent during pregnancy*, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress*I’ve been crying excessively and have been real sensitive*
Forgot to also say something important. My period finally completely stopped yesterday but now, I’m having excessive urinating and just this morning i got morning sickness.
OK so my point of showing you all this was I’m thinking, would I be pregnant AND starting to react to Celiac?? PLease someone research this. I would go to the doctor but I just got insurance a few days ago and it’s not active til Jan 14. I just wanna research this so I can go into the doctor’s telling them exactly what is wrong. Question is though, should I go to the Gynecologist or my regular Physician???
Undiagnosed Celiac Disease
Until recently, celiac disease was thought to be uncommon in the United States. However, studies have shown that it occurs in an estimated 1 in 133 Americans. Among people who have a first-degree relative diagnosed as being ‘celiac’, as many as 1 in 22 may have the disease.
Read more on HealthandAge
Ever since I was little I’ve had problems with digestion. I originally thought it was lactose-intolerance, and my GP told me to take Lactaid pills. They worked at first, probably psychologically, then stopped working and was still having frequent discomfort.
Now that I’m 19 years old and Still having problems, I found a gastroenterologist. He scheduled me for bloodwork and a colonoscopy. Today he did my scope, but he hasn’t seen the blood work yet. He says my colon looks fine and suspects I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. However when I looked up the symptoms for Celiac disase, I have all the symptoms except for osteoporosis, which my mother has. ( We both have digestive issues, as well my her brother/my uncle) I’m almost positive that’s what I have just basing it off that, but my doctor says I’ve been looking at the internet too much, and that what the internet says is Wrong… Has anyone been in a similar situation?? IS the internet, in fact, a Bad reference, even though Every website has the same symptoms listed??? Help!
Gluten Enteropathy, a disease which makes wheat, rye, barley and often oats poisonous to the body, is often unsymptomatic. However, it can lead to osteoporosis, diabetes and dementia. When it does have symptoms, people are often misdiagnosed and suffer for years.
In children, sometimes the only symptom is irritability.
Gluten is found in almost everything, which means that school lunches can be hurting many of our children.