Symptoms primarily related to immediate difficulties
in digestion include:
chronic diarrhea
foul-smelling grayish stools. These result from
inability to properly digest fats.
gas, abdominal bloating
abdominal cramps
weight loss
Other symptoms that develop because of vitamin
and mineral deficiencies can include:
iron deficiency anemia, low red blood cell count
joint pain, muscle pain, muscle crampsosteoporosis (inadequate calcium absorption)
tingling in the legs from nerve damage
seizures
bleeding disorders (inadequate vitamin K)
missed menstrual periods
infertility (women), frequent miscarriages
failure to thrive in infants
delayed mental and physical growth in children
Other symptoms include:
fatigue
irritability and behavioral changes especially in
children
pale sores inside the mouth
dermatitis herpetiformis, an itchy skin rash that usu-
ally appears on the trunk, buttocks, neck, and scalp.DiagnosisCeliac disease can be difficult to diagnose because
its symptoms are similar to those of so many other
diseases. Often it is initially misdiagnosed asirritable
bowel syndromeorCrohn’s disease. Stool examina-
tion, blood tests, and lactose (milk sugar) tolerance
tests are often done when the patient first complains of
symptoms, but there are two definitive tests for celiac
disease.
The immune system of people with celiac disease
produces higher than normal levels of certain antibod-
ies. Blood tests can detect abnormal levels of these
antibodies. If blood tests are positive, a small bowel
endoscopy with biopsies is done. Endoscopies are usu-
ally performed in a doctor’s office or an outpatient
clinic while the patient is under light sedation. In this
procedure, the physician inserts a tube called an endo-
scope down the patient’s throat, through the patient’s
stomach and into the upper part of the small intestine.
A tiny camera at the end of the endoscope allows the
doctor to see if there is damage to villi. During this
procedure, the doctor also removes small tissue sam-
ples (biopsies) from the intestinal lining in order to
look for cell damage under the microscope. Presence
of a specific type of damage is a positive diagnosis for
celiac disease.TreatmentThere is no cure for celiac disease. The only treat-
ment is life-long avoidance of any foods that contain
gluten. This means not eating foods that contain wheat,
rye, and barley, such as bread or baked goods, pizza,KEY TERMS
Antibody—a protein produced by the immune sys-
tem to fight infection or rid the body of foreign
material. The foreign material that stimulates the
production of antibodies is called an antigen. Spe-
cific antibodies are produced in response to each
different antigen and can only inactivate that par-
ticular antigen.
Mineral—an inorganic substance found in the earth
that is necessary in small quantities for the body to
maintain a health. Examples: zinc, copper, iron.
Osteoporosis—a condition found in older individ-
uals in which bones decrease in density and
become fragile and more likely to break. It can be
caused by lack of vitamin D and/or calcium in the
diet.
Quinoa—a high-protein grain native to South
America (pronounced keen-wah)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—a serious
autoimmune disease of connective tissue that affects
mainly women. It can cause joint pain, rash, and
inflammation of organs such as the kidney.
Triticale—man-made hybrid plant that combines
wheat and rye and that produces a higher protein
flour
Type 1 diabetes—also known as insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (IDDM), or juvenile diabetes, an
autoimmune disease in which the body appears to
disable cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
Without insulin, the body cannot use glucose
(sugar).
Vitamin—a nutrient that the body needs in small
amounts to remain healthy but that the body cannot
manufacture for itself and must acquire through dietCeliac disease