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Feature Articles: Health Celiac DiseaseTammy Roberts, MS, RD, LD, Nutrition and
Health Education Specialist in Barton County |
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Celiac Sprue is a disease in which a person does not tolerate
gluten, the protein in wheat, barley, rye and, to a lesser
extent, oats. Celiac Sprue is not a food allergy but a disease
that damages the small intestine and prevents absorption of
nutrients.
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information
Clearinghouse (NIDDIC) about two million people or 1 in 133
persons in the United States have celiac disease. It is
considered to be a genetic disorder. It can be diagnosed in
infancy through adulthood. Both males and females can have the
disease but more women than men are diagnosed with it.
The Celiac Sprue Association lists three things that happen
before the onset of the disease: a genetic predisposition, a
diet containing wheat, barley, rye or oats and a trigger. The
trigger could be things like overexposure to wheat, extreme
stress, surgery, or a viral infection.
It is a complicated disease because a person can have the
disease and not have symptoms. There have been instances where
children have been diagnosed but then have symptoms disappear.
They later found that although there were no symptoms, damage to
the small intestine was still occurring. The damage in the small
intestine is to the villi which are thin hair-like projections
on the lining of the small intestine. They allow nutrients in to
the bloodstream. If the villi are damaged, malnutrition, anemia,
weight loss and growth retardation can occur.
Symptoms of celiac disease vary from person to person but may
include gas, abdominal pain, weight loss or weight gain,
tiredness, foul smelling or fatty stools, bone or joint pain,
irritability, (one of the most common symptoms in children)
tingling of legs and hands, delayed growth, sores in the mouth
or an itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.
Celiac disease is often under diagnosed because is can be
confused with other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome,
diverticulitis or Crohn’s disease. To diagnose celiac disease, a
physician will first do a blood test. If certain antibodies are
present, they will do a small bowel biopsy to check for damage
to the villi.
The only way to treat the disease is the elimination of gluten in the diet. Usually people notice a difference within a short period of time. Maintaining a gluten-free diet allows the small intestine to heal.
Last update: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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