CELIAC DISEASE

Celiac disease is a medical condition in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by a substance called gluten. This results in an inability of the body to absorb nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health.

It is estimated that 1:133 persons in Canada are affected by celiac disease. Many of these are still waiting to be diagnosed.

A wide range of symptoms may be present. Symptoms may appear together or singularly in children or adults. Common symptoms: anemia, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, cramps & bloating, irritability. Although some or all of these symptoms occur in celiac disease, some can also occur in many other diseases more common than celiac disease. In other cases, the symptoms listed above do not occur, but the sufferers develop an intense burning and itching rash called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH)**. The intestinal symptoms of celiac disease may or may not appear in dermatitis herpetiformis. DH is controlled by medication and the gluten free diet.

A definite diagnosis can only be made by a small bowel biopsy. The biopsy is performed by a specialist in the gastrointestinal field.

Celiac disease as yet has no known cure, but can usually be effectively treated and controlled. The treatment of celiac disease is strict adherence to a Gluten-Free diet for life. The person with celiac disease must read the list of ingredients on all labels, every time.

Other names for celiac disease include celiac sprue, gluten-sentitive enteropathy, nontropical sprue.

Celiac disease is not just a childhood disease. Celiacs can be diagnosed at any age, from infancy through old age. Celiac disease is for life. Contrary to previous misconceptions, one does not outgrow celiac disease. Once a Celiac, always a Celiac!

** For more information on dermatitis herpetiformis click here. Use your back button to get back to these pages.