| Celiac disease is a disorder of the digestive system | | | | anemia resulting from iron deficiency, pain in the bones |
| that affects the small intestines in particular. Also | | | | and joints, fatigue, osteoporosis, infertility, seizures, |
| known by other names such as celiac sprue, | | | | canker sores in the mouth and skin rashes called |
| nontropical sprue and gluten enteropathy, this disease | | | | dermatitis herpetiformis. |
| is referred to as an auto-immune genetic disorder. | | | | When treatment is not started at the earliest time, |
| People who come from families with a history of this | | | | celiac sprue disease can lead to more serious |
| condition have a higher chance of getting the disease | | | | conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, diseases of the |
| as well. | | | | liver and thyroid as well as rheumatoid arthritis. Other |
| The small intestine is the one that gets the most | | | | possible diseases include the Addison's which |
| damage when a person has celiac disease. When this | | | | damages the glands that produce important hormones |
| happens, the nutrients from the food taken in the body | | | | and Sjogren's syndrome which affects the glands that |
| are not properly absorbed due to intolerance to gluten. | | | | releases saliva and tears. |
| Gluten is a protein component of wheat, rye and | | | | Celiac disease can only be diagnosed through specific |
| barley but which can be found in other products as | | | | tests. The reason is that when physical symptoms are |
| well including vitamins, lip balms and certain medicines. | | | | the only measures used, they can be confused with |
| People positive of celiac disease tend to develop a | | | | other conditions hence the need for a thorough testing. |
| weak immune system. This is because when their | | | | - Blood tests for celiac sprue normally determines the |
| bodies take in foods containing gluten, their immune | | | | anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) or |
| system automatically damages the villi or the lining of | | | | anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA) |
| the small intestine which is important in absorbing the | | | | - An internal biopsy will determine the real condition of |
| nutrients. When the body lacks the proper nutrients, this | | | | the small intestine. A long and thin tube called an |
| then leads to malnutrition. | | | | endoscope is used for this purpose. The instrument is |
| Symptoms of celiac sprue disease can vary from one | | | | passed through the mouth and stomach and then into |
| person to another. The most common signs, though, | | | | the small intestine. This procedure will also take a small |
| include diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, gas with foul | | | | sample of tissue to check the extent of damage to |
| odor or what is known as flatulence, stomach bloating | | | | the villi. A skin biopsy may also be done for those |
| and pain and weight loss no matter how much an | | | | experience skin rashes. Only a diet free from foods |
| individual eats. This disorder today affects both children | | | | containing gluten can help treat this disorder. Foods |
| and adults and in some cases even the elderly. In its | | | | containing wheat, rye and barley include pasta, bread, |
| early days, mostly infants and children were affected | | | | starch, sauces containing flour and starch while beer |
| by this disease. Among adults, the digestive signs may | | | | and ale should also be avoided. |
| not be very common. Instead, they can suffer from | | | | |