| Celiac disease is a digestive disorder. Once thought to | | | | gluten allergy is to attack the villi of the small |
| be a rare condition affecting only children, it is now | | | | intestine, the body has a decreased ability to absorb |
| known to be more common, affecting as many as | | | | nutrients from food. This can lead to malnutrition. |
| two million Americans alone. It is a genetic disease | | | | Liver diseases or digestive cancers can also result. |
| and those with a close family member with a gluten | | | | Many people with celiac disease have other conditions |
| allergy are at increased risk of it. For some individuals, | | | | in which the body attacks itself. These may include |
| the disease is latent until triggered by an event such | | | | Type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, |
| as pregnancy, childbirth, surgery or extreme stress. | | | | autoimmune liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, |
| In a nutshell, individuals with this condition have a | | | | Addison's disease or Sjogren's syndrome. These |
| gluten intolerance. If they are exposed to gluten, it | | | | conditions may bring additional symptoms. |
| triggers an allergic reaction in which the body attacks | | | | Symptoms of these conditions may include frequent |
| itself, damaging and sometimes destroying the villi | | | | urination, vision disturbances or problems, slow healing |
| that line the small intestines. | | | | time, weight loss or gain, jaundice, joint stiffness, |
| Symptoms of a gluten allergy are much like those | | | | muscle weakness or fatigue, irritability or increased |
| experienced with other food allergies, but can vary | | | | occurrence of infections. Many of these conditions |
| widely between individuals. Digestive problems are | | | | have similar symptoms to gluten intolerance, which |
| common with celiac disease, especially in infants and | | | | may mask the underlying gluten allergy. |
| children. They may include abdominal pain and | | | | Because of the varied symptoms that come with |
| bloating, vomiting, constipation, chronic diarrhea or | | | | celiac disease and the probability of more serious |
| pale, fatty, or foul-smelling stools. Weight loss is | | | | conditions also being present, you should talk to your |
| common in children as a result of these symptoms. | | | | doctor if you experience any of these symptoms on |
| Gluten intolerance may also lead to defects in growth | | | | a regular basis. A food journal may be helpful in |
| and development. | | | | diagnosing the condition if you can link gluten with |
| In adults, symptoms may be more varied. Many | | | | symptoms. Keep in mind that gluten, while generally |
| symptoms can be attributed to other conditions, | | | | found in food, is also sometimes found in places you |
| which is why it may not be diagnosed right away. | | | | might not expect, including vitamins, medicines and lip |
| Symptoms may include bone and joint pain, arthritis, | | | | balms. |
| unexplained iron-deficient anemia, fatigue, bone loss | | | | To confirm a diagnosis of a gluten allergy, your |
| or osteoporosis, seizures, tingling or numbness in the | | | | doctor may run blood tests or order an intestinal |
| extremities, canker sores or dermatitis herpetaformis, | | | | biopsy. The blood tests look for specific antibodies |
| an itchy skin rash. Women may also experience | | | | which elevate in patients with gluten intolerance. If |
| reproductive problems such as missed menstrual | | | | blood tests indicate celiac disease, the biopsy is |
| periods, miscarriages or infertility. | | | | generally done to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor |
| Left untreated, gluten intolerance can lead to more | | | | will remove small pieces from the small intestine to |
| serious symptoms. Because the body's response to a | | | | look for villi damage. |