LIFESTYLE NEWS - Celiac disease is a digestive disorder caused by an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Celiac disease is also known as gluten intolerance or gluten-sensitive >enteropathy.
Gluten is a protein found in foods made with wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. It is also found in oats that have been made in processing plants that handle other grains. Gluten can even be found in some medicines, vitamins, and lipsticks.
Gluten intolerance, also known as gluten sensitivity, is characterized by the body's inability to digest or break down gluten. Some people with gluten intolerance have a mild sensitivity to gluten, while others have full-blown celiac disease.
In celiac disease, the immune response to gluten creates toxins that destroy the villi. Villi are tiny finger-like protrusions inside the small intestines. When the villi become damaged, the body is unable to absorb nutrients from food. This can lead to malnutrition and other serious health complications, including permanent intestinal damage.
Children with celiac disease can feel tired and irritable. They may also be smaller than normal and have delayed puberty.
- weight loss
- vomiting
- abdominal bloating and pain
- persistent diarrhoea or constipation
- pale, fatty, foul-smelling stools
Adults with celiac disease may experience digestive symptoms. In most cases, however, symptoms also affect other areas of the body. Symptoms may include:
- iron-deficiency anaemia
- joint pain and stiffness
- weak, brittle bones
- fatigue
- skin disorders
- numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
- tooth discolouration or loss of enamel
- pale sores inside the mouth
- irregular menstrual periods
- infertility and miscarriage
Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is another common symptom of celiac disease. DH is an intensely itchy skin rash made up of bumps and blisters. It may develop on the elbows, buttocks, and knees. DH affects approximately 15 to 25 percent of people with celiac disease.
Those who do experience DH usually don't have digestive symptoms.
Talk to your doctor to learn about diagnosis and management.
This article is for informative purposes only. Please see your doctor if you experience any symptoms. Questions can be forwarded to questions@walkindoctor.co.za.
Walk in Doctor / Walk in Dentist 0861 943 943
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