Celiac disease is something you are born with. It happens when your immune system reacts the wrong way to gluten.
This reaction harms tiny parts of the small intestine called villi. These help your body absorb nutrients from food. When villi get damaged, it becomes hard for your body to get what it needs from food. Over time, this can lead to malnutrition and other health issues.
Celiac disease affects about 1 out of every 100 people around the world. It is more common in people with European ancestry. It can show up at any age, but many adults are diagnosed later in life. Because symptoms can be mild or confusing, many people don’t even know they have it.
Eating gluten can keep damaging the small intestine over time. This can lead to poor nutrient absorption (malnutrition) and raise the risk of other autoimmune diseases or certain types of intestinal cancer.
Yes, celiac sprue can start at any age, even in people who could eat gluten before without any problems. If you notice symptoms later in life, it’s important to talk to a doctor.
Pure and clean oats are usually safe for most people with celiac sprue. However, it’s best to add them to your diet slowly. Some people may still react to avenin, a protein found in oats.
Yes, celiac sprue can cause problems outside the digestive system.
If not treated, it may lead to weak bones (osteoporosis), low iron (anemia), nerve issues, skin rashes (called dermatitis herpetiformis), and problems with fertility or pregnancy.
Even if symptoms are mild or not there, blood tests can find special antibodies linked to gluten. If the tests are positive, the doctor will take a small sample from the small intestine.
Finding celiac disease early, even without symptoms, is very important to stop long-term damage.
Risk factors for celiac sprue include having family members with the disease, certain genes like HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8, and other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes or thyroid problems.
Also, some genetic conditions like Down syndrome can raise the risk.
These factors make it more likely that your immune system will react to gluten and cause celiac sprue.
Consult your doctor if you have diarrhea or digestive discomfort lasting more than two weeks. Additionally, consult a doctor if your child feels irritable, is not growing properly, has a potbelly, and has foul-smelling, bulky stools.
Celiac Disease tends to run in families. If someone in your family has the condition, ask your doctor if you should be tested. Also, ask about testing if you or someone in your family has a risk factor for Celiac Disease, such as type 1 diabetes.
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