What are the symptoms of Coeliac Disease?
How do you know if you’re Coeliac?
- In Coeliac (also spelled Celiac) Disease, a person’s immune system reacts abnormally to gluten- a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats.
- This leads to inflammation of the gut and difficulty absorbing food. It can also cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
- Coeliac Disease is common- around 1 in 70 Australians have it, though up to 80% are undiagnosed.
- Undiagnosed Coeliac Disease can be a problem, as it can lead to other serious health issues. So, how do you know if you have it?
What are the symptoms of Coliac Disease?
Gut related symptoms
- If a person with Coeliac disease eats gluten, they may experience abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and diarrhoea.
- Less commonly, constipation may occur.
- Some people may develop recurring mouth ulcers.
- Bowel motions may also be pale in colour, and particularly foul-smelling.
- To make matters worse, sometimes lactose intolerance can develop alongside Coeliac Disease.
- Many people with Coeliac disease will also feel tired and may lose weight for no apparent reason.
A family history
If you have a parent, brother, sister or child who has celiac disease, you have around 1 in 10 chance of having it yourself.
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies or other abnormal blood tests
Sometimes celiac disease is picked up when a doctor notices you have low iron levels, or a low blood count caused by low iron (iron deficiency anaemia). This happens because an inflamed gut does not absorb iron properly. People with celiac disease may also get low Vitamin D or Vitamin B12 levels. Now and then, there may also be abnormalities in liver function tests.
Other symptoms of Coeliac Disease
- Some people with Coeliac Disease will experience a rash, known as dermatitis herpetiformis- tiny blisters that can easily be mistaken for the cold sore virus.
- Others may experience hair loss.
- Over time, low Vitamin D levels may result in reduced bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis) which may show up on an X-ray or bone density scan. This leads to brittle bones which break more easily.
- Less commonly, people can get nerve inflammation or “neuropathy” – with numbness, burning pain, or tingling in their arms or legs.
- People with Coeliac Disease also have a higher risk of other autoimmune conditions- such as thyroid disease, Type 1 Diabetes and certain forms of arthritis.
- And the incidence of depression is also increased.
What is the test for Coeliac Disease?
- Coeliac Disease can be diagnosed at any age!
- Diagnosis is based on symptoms, blood tests (which may include coeliac antibodies and coeliac gene testing), and often a camera test of the stomach and gut (also referred to as an OGD or gastroscopy), performed by a specialist.
- The lining of the small intestine has a typical appearance in people who have Coeliac Disease- usually biopsies are taken and examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
What is the treatment for Coeliac Disease?
- Treatment of Coeliac Disease is a strict gluten free diet for life- a few sessions with a dietitian can be very helpful at the start.
- Your doctor will probably keep an eye on your general health on an ongoing basis, and may perform blood tests from time to time to monitor things like iron and Vitamin D. Sometimes you may need to take Vitamin D or iron supplements.
If you have concerns about Coeliac disease, be sure to speak to your GP.
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