What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten leads to atrophy and flattening of the microvilli in the small intestine, leading to malabsorption of food.
What are the symptoms of celiac disease?
- Abdominal bloating and pain
- Continued diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
- Weight loss (due to malabsorption of nutrients)
- Fatigue
- Irritability and behavioral issues
- Dental enamel defects of the permanent teeth
- Delayed growth and puberty
- Short stature
- Failure to thrive
Characteristics of celiac disease
- Genetic autoimmune disease
- Immune response when ingesting gluten (damage to the villi of the small intestine)
- Malabsorption of nutrients (especially fat soluble vitamins)
- If left untreated, can lead to other other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, and certain cancers (i.e. colon cancer)
- Can be triggered in time of stress (like pregnancy), although this is controversial and requires more research
- Only 1 treatment/cure, and that is following a 100% gluten-free diet
Learn more about celiac disease here!