Celiac Disease: Celiac – pertaining to the abdomen.
The disease can have complications beyond the stomach and intestines, usually
from malnutrition. Celiac disease is also called celiac sprue, gluten
sensitive enteropathy, and or nontopical sprue. The small intestine
is very sensitive to gluten, a protein found in food such as most grain
cereals for instance, wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats, it is not
found in corn and rice. The gluten irritates the small intestine
and leads to deterioration of the villi (which is essential for the absorption
of food on the mucous lining
Celiac disease often appears in infancy and or early childhood, but
can occur at any age. Untreated celiac disease can result in miscarriage
or failure to conceive in affected women, and in men it can cause impotence.
Patients who has had the disease for 20 years or more can develop cancer
in the gastrointestinal tract. Celiac disease can result in vitamin
deficiencies and patients may develop anemia, muscle weakness, numbness
and bone problems and may have bleeding tendencies.
Cause: Has been link to be hereditary but the exact cause
is unknown. Studies shows a defect in the immune system that causes
certain cells to attack the intestinal mucous membrane when gluten is added
to the diet. Researchers also suggests a deficiency of an enzyme
that digest gluten.
Symptoms:
Abdominal swelling and pain
Flatulence and a feeling of being bloated
Diarrhea
Stools that is pale, foul smelling and may float in water, at times
with yellow fat globules floating on the surface in the toilet water
Fatigue
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Delay in growth and muscle weakness in children
In infants – may have signs of extreme gastrointestinal distress usually
a few weeks after starting on cereal
Treatment:
Dietary change (usually in most cases the patient responds well without
the need for additional measures)
Your doctor may advise you to avoid fatty foods and dairy products,
wheat, rye, and barley.
Call your doctor if abdominal pain and diarrhea continues after a few
days after elimination’s of gluten.