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Celiac Disease
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Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Celiac (pronounced - SEL-ee-ak) disease affects people differently. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system, or in other parts of the body. For example, one person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person may be irritable or depressed. In fact, irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children. Symptoms of celiac disease may include one or more of the following:
- Gas
- Recurring abdominal bloating and pain
- Diarrhea - chronic (lasting a long time)
- Constipation
- Pale, foul smelling, or fatty stool
- Weight loss or weight gain - Body Mass Index Calculator & Chart
- Fatigue
- Unexplained anemia (a low count of red blood cells causing fatigue)
- Bone or joint pain
- Osteoporosis, osteopenia
- Behavioral changes
- Tingling numbness in the legs (from nerve damage)
- Muscle cramps
- Seizures
- Missed menstrual periods (often because of excessive weight loss)
- Infertility, recurrent miscarriage
- Delayed growth
- Failure to thrive in infants
- Pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthous ulcers
- Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel
- Itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
A person with celiac disease may have no symptoms. People without symptoms are still at risk for the complications of celiac disease, including malnutrition. The longer a person goes undiagnosed and untreated, the greater the chance of developing malnutrition and other complications. Anemia, delayed growth, and weight loss are signs of malnutrition: The body is just not getting enough nutrients. Malnutrition is a serious problem for children because they need adequate nutrition to develop properly.
Researchers are studying the reasons celiac disease affects people differently. Some people develop symptoms as children, others as adults. Some people with celiac disease may not have symptoms, while others may not know their symptoms are from celiac disease. The undamaged part of their * small intestine may not be able to absorb enough nutrients to prevent symptoms.
The length of time a person is breastfed, the age a person started eating gluten-containing foods, and the amount of gluten-containing foods one eats are three factors thought to play a role in when and how celiac disease appears. Some studies have shown, for example, that the longer a person was breastfed, the later the symptoms of celiac disease appear and the more uncommon the symptoms.
Definitions For This Page - In Alphabetical Order
* Small Intestine
The small intestine is the organ where most digestion occurs. It measures about 22 feet and includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine, right after your stomach, jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine between the duodenum and ileum, and the ileum is the lower end of the small intestine. More about Small Intestine.
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References:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
NIH Publication No. 07-4269
August 2007
digestive.niddk.nih.gov
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