Celiac disease – Causes, Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease

What is gluten? Which food items have gluten?

Gluten is a type of protein found in cereals such as wheat, barley, and rye. Thus, it is present in common day to day food items like Rotis, bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, and others.

Apart from this, many processed food items (such as sauces, soups, salad dressings, etc), nutrient supplements, vitamins as well as daily-use items like lip balms, lipstick, toothpaste, skin, and hair products also contain gluten in it. Rarely, it can be also present in some medicines.

Is celiac disease the same as gluten sensitivity or wheat intolerance?

Celiac disease is different from gluten sensitivity or wheat intolerance where the person develops some complaints similar to the celiac disease on consuming gluten but doesn’t cause damage to the small intestine. Below we will talk about signs and symptoms of celiac disease, just read this content till the end.

Is celiac disease the same as wheat allergy?

Celiac disease is also different from wheat allergy where the person develops immune reaction against the wheat however, there are no long-standing damages to the small intestine as seen in celiac disease. Moreover, in wheat allergy, you may also develop allergy-like signs and symptoms of celiac disease such as itchy eyes and breathing difficulty not seen in celiac disease.

Wheat allergies also do not cause long-term damage to the small intestine.

Children with digestive signs and symptoms of celiac disease may complain of:

• Gas, bloating or swelling in the abdomen

• Chronic diarrhea

• Constipation

• Nausea and vomiting

• Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stools that float on water

• Abdominal pain

The damage to the intestine in children with celiac disease may result in an inability to absorb nutrients leading to the following conditions:

• Damage to the enamel (covering) of teeth

• In infants, it can lead lead to failure to thrive

• Weight loss

• Short height and slow growth

• Anemia

• Delayed puberty

• Irritability, mood changes or being impatient

• ADHD, headache, seizures, etc.

Celiac disease in adults more commonly produces non-digestive symptoms like:

• Anemia, commonly due to iron deficiency

• Fatigue

• Reduction in bone density (osteoporosis) resulting in weak bones

• Bone and joint pains

• Missed periods in females

• Infertility or repeated abortions

• Skin problem with itchy skin rashes called Dermatitis herpetiformis

• Red and smooth tongue

• Mouth ulcers or dry mouth

• Tingling numbness in the hands and feet

• Headache

• Anxiety or depression

• Seizures

The condition in less than half of the adult patients results in digestive symptoms of celiac disease like:

• Abdominal pain

• Gas and bloating

• Diarrhea

• Intestinal obstruction

• Stomach or intestinal ulcers

• Constipation

Signs and Symptoms of Celiac disease which could indicate the need for a gluten-free diet

signs and Symptoms of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are similar and may include: recurring abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea/constipation, tingling/numbness in hands and feet, chronic fatigue, joint pain, unexplained infertility and low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis). There are approximately 200 potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.

• Dermatitis herpetiformis 25%

• Lymphocytic colitis 15-27%

• Unexplained infertility 12%

• Peripheral neuropathy 10-12%

• Gluten ataxia 10-12%

• Liver disease 10%

• Type I diabetes 8-10%

Long-term complications may also lead to:

• Malnutrition: this occurs due to damage and inability of the small intestine to absorb nutrients from food resulting in anemia and weight loss. In children, it may also lead to slow growth and short stature.

• Weakening of bones: due to decreased absorption of the calcium and vitamin D, there is the loss of density of bones in adults (osteopenia/ osteoporosis) and softening of the bones (osteomalacia or rickets) making them prone to fractures.

• Lactose intolerance: damage to the small intestine can also result in the inability to absorb lactose from milk and milk products resulting in lactose intolerance.

• Cancer: long-standing untreated celiac disease also increase the chances of development of small bowel cancer and intestinal lymphoma.

• Refractory celiac disease: rarely, the small intestine becomes severely damaged and is unable to recover even after starting a gluten-free diet resulting in refractory disease. These people are unable to absorb nutrients and thus a person is given nutrients through the intravenous line.