Celiac Disease
August 11, 2009
Celiac disease is a disorder that affects the small intestine of certain people who are allergic to gluten. Gluten in a protein present in wheat, barley, rye etc and gluten is also seen in certain lip balms, vitamin tablets etc.
When people having celiac disease consume food having gluten their immune system will react. Their immune system will cause damage to their small intestine.
Usually our body gets most the nutrients it requires through the walls of the digestive tract. One of the most important parts of digestive tract that plays an important role in absorbing nutrients is small intestine. Small intestine is lined with numerous finger like protrusions called villi. If the patients suffering from celiac disease consumes gluten containing substances, it damage their villi and their body won’t get the required nutrients as the absorbing system of the body will not working properly.
Symptoms in children
Children having celiac disease may complain about abdominal pain frequently and they may have diarrhea accompanied by blood stains. They may show difficulty in gaining weight. Anemia and malnutrition are the common symptoms seen in such kids and they may have loss of appetite and nausea. Such kids may show skin problems, lactose intolerance, hair loss, late onset of puberty and large tummy with thin thighs.
Symptoms in Adults
The most commonly seen symptoms in such patients are loss of calcium from bones and this cause pain in the bones at night. Many of them will be anemic as well. Recurrent miscarriages and infertility is also seen in certain patients. Canker sores and skin diseases are also seen at times.
Causes of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease can be genetically inherited and if your immediate relatives have celiac disease then you may have 5 to 10 percent chance of getting the disease. In certain cases it develops after undergoing stress like physical injury, stress of surgery, stress of pregnancy, infection etc. people having Type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, Down syndrome etc are also prone to get this disease.
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