Coeliac Disease- Coeliac Disease Symptom, Causes, Treatment

Coeliac Disease is a hereditary digestive disorder caused by intolerance to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, oats, barley and millet. Coeliac disease can develop in babies. Older children or adults who have not previously had problems may also become 'gluten sensitive' at some point in their life and develop coeliac disease. It is not known why the immune system of some people becomes sensitised to gluten. Part of the gluten molecule acts as an Antigen to stimulate an immune reaction that damages the lining of the small intestine, so that food cannot be properly digested and nutrients are not properly absorbed. An important consequence is Anaemia because of inadequate iron absorption.

Coeliac disease tends to run in families and is usually diagnosed early in life, though in mild cases it may not cause much disturbance to health until adulthood. Some older people with coeliac disease may not realise they are taking small amounts of gluten. They may ignore mild symptoms such as bloating or mild diarrhoea. Vital nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium may not be absorbed well. This can cause thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) and lead to fractures.

Symptom of Coeliac Disease

The symptom in infants begin when foods containing gluten are introduced, and include a pot belly, abdominal pain. loose and foul-smelling faces, pallor, due to anaemia, irritability, and failure to gain weight. In adults there may be bouts of diarrhoea, latulence (passing wind) and abdominal distension, with wasting, pallor and weakness. Coeliac disease is difficult to diagnose because it is not often characterised by specific complaints. Different people may experience different symptoms. The most common symptoms in adults include:

• Anaemia (iron deficiency)
• Bloating and flatulence
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Fatigue, weakness and lethargy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Weight loss.

• Abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence
• Bulky, foul-smelling bowel motions
• Chronic anaemia
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Poor weight gain
• Retarded growth
• Weight loss.

Diagnosis & Treatment of Coeliac Disease

Diagnosis is based on the symptoms and confirmed by improvement on a gluten-free diet. Biopsy of the small intestine lining will show characteristic abnormalities. If coeliac disease is suspected, a blood test to detect a certain antibody may be advised by your doctor. If it is present the diagnosis of coeliac disease is likely. To confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy (small sample) is taken from the inside lining of the gut. This is looked at with a microscope to see if the typical changes of coeliac disease are present. The biopsy is usually taken by a flexible tube (endoscope) which is passed into the small intestine.

Coeliac disease is treated by excluding gluten from the diet. In some cases vitamin and mineral supplements are needed until digestive health is restored. The only effective treatment of Coeliac disease is strict lifelong complete avoidance of Gluten found in cereals such as Wheat, Rye and Barley (many tolerate Oats). It is completely safe to eat Maize, Corn or Rice. Very severe coeliac disease, which does not get better on a gluten-free diet, may need tablets that 'damp down' the immune system, such as steroid tablets, but this is very rare.

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