Celiac disease: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Table of Content

• What is Celiac Disease?

• What causes celiac disease?

• 10 common symptoms of celiac disease are

• How to track the symptoms of celiac disease?

• What is the different method for the treatment of celiac disease? 

• What should I do if I experience celiac disease?

• Take-home message

• FAQ on Celiac disease, symptoms, causes and treatment

Introduction

• Celiac disease is a disease of the small intestine which causes problems in food digestion, it is seen more in females. A strict gluten free diet is recommended to control celiac disease. 

• Celiac disease is also known as dermatitis herpetiformis. 

• This disorder is mainly triggered by the consumption of excess gluten. 

• Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why am I feeling a sudden ache in my abdomen?”

• If yes, then this is the right platform to get your answers!

• In comparison to males’ celiac disease is observed more frequently in females also with more severe symptoms.

• Symptoms like pain in the abdomen, bloating, low blood count (anemia), osteoporosis, fatigue, malnutrition, delayed puberty and slow growth are most commonly observed as the symptoms of celiac disease.  If this kind of symptoms are seen without any other abnormalities in the female, then these might be the symptoms of celiac disease. 

• A person with celiac disease tends to have villous atrophy as well because due to the triggered immunization by gluten the intestinal villi tend to get damaged. 

• Eczema is common in people with celiac disease. Eczema is a condition where the skin becomes inflames, itchy, cracked and rough.

• The endoscopy of duodenum is very important for the diagnosis of celiac disease. Intestinal duodenum biopsy is considered as the gold standard for the diagnosis of celiac disease. 

• This blog will discuss in detail about the symptoms, causes and treatment of celiac disease. 

What is Celiac Disease?

An overall understanding of celiac disease and actually what happens if one experiences the disease will help us get a better idea about the symptoms and the treatment.

• Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that mainly occurs in genetically predisposed people. Celiac disease mainly occurs due to the ingestion of gluten (natural protein found in grains like wheat, barley etc.). This ingestion leads to the damage of small intestine. 

• This ingestion damages the lining of the small intestine to an extent where the absorption of some nutrient is prevented. This complication is also called as malabsorption.

• This is majorly an immunogenic reaction to the eating of food that includes high amount of gluten.

• The occurrence of this disease is mainly due to lifestyle therefore it can be termed as a lifestyle disorder. People with lifestyle that includes major consumption of food including gluten are more likely to suffer from this disease.

• In some cases, babies also show the signs of celiac disease soon after starting solid food like cereal. The early celiac disease symptoms may include not gaining health at a regular pace, diarrhea and stomach pain. In later years of development, a baby with celiac disease might not reach the expected height, may develop mouth, sores, anemia and also face behavioral issues. 

• The intestinal damage that occurs in this disease may be mild, moderate and severe. If controlled at the right time excess damage to the intestine can be prevented.

• The main method to prevent the disease and control the severity is to monitor the amount of gluten consumption. 

What causes celiac disease?

• Researchers suggest that celiac disease occurs in people who have certain kinds of genes and eat food that contain gluten. 

• Genes: Celiac disease mostly occurs in two groups of people of variants with normal genes DQ2 and DQ8. Although, the statistics suggest that only 3% of people with these genes develop celiac disease. 

• Gluten is a natural protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. It acts as a binder and holds the food together.  The consumption of gluten triggers the abnormal immune system response that causes celiac disease. The research suggests that children with predisposition of celiac disease-causing genes that consume gluten are more likely to develop full-fledged celiac disease. 

• Others: Studies also suggest that infections in early stages of life and certain digestive tract infections are also the underlying cause of celiac disease.

10 common symptoms of celiac disease are

Signs of glucose intolerance are also the signs of celiac disease. Celiac disease can be identified by these common characteristics or symptoms:

• Diarrhea: Loose, watery stool is one of the most common symptoms that is experienced by the patients before being diagnosed by celiac disease.

• Bloating is another celiac disease related common symptom.

• Excess production of gas is a common digestive issue which is also seen in people suffering from celiac disease.

• Fatigue or decreased energy is also an issue faced by people with celiac disease.

• Iron deficiency or anemia.

• Weight loss.

• Itchy rash: Celiac disease may also cause dermatitis herpetiformis. It mainly occurs in elbows, knees and buttocks. 

• Constipation: In some people celiac disease may also cause constipation in place of diarrhea. 

• Depression: It is a psychological symptom observed along with various physical symptoms in patients with celiac disease.

• Celiac disease may also lead to tooth discoloration of teeth from white to yellow. 

How to track the symptoms of celiac disease?

Four prominent methods to detect celiac disease are:

• Serology testing: This test mainly looks for antibodies   in the body that regulates the immune response towards the reaction to gluten. The levels of these antibodies in the body are elevated during the immune response towards gluten.

• Genetic testing: This testing is mainly done to rule out the chances of celiac disease from the beginning. The genes that are tested are HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 that when detected can be used as a precaution warning for probable celiac disease. 

• Endoscopy: It is a device which has a long tube with a tiny camera that is put into the mouth and passed down the throat. The camera helps the doctor to take a view of the small intestine and take a small tissue sample (biopsy) to analyze the damage to the villi of the intestine.

• Capsule endoscopy: This test uses a wireless camera to take a picture of the small intestine. The camera is enclosed in the capsule which is swallowed and travels through the digestive tract. The camera then takes a thousand pictures which is then transmitted to the recorder. 

What is the different method for the treatment of celiac disease? 

There are three main methods to treat celiac disease: self-care with diet, medication and therapies.

Self-care with gluten freediet

In order to achieve relief from celiac disease symptoms self-care is important. One should take care and strictly be on a gluten free diet. This gluten free diet should include fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs. 

Medications

These work in conjugation with other ongoing treatment regimens of celiac disease. There are two types of medications that can be taken:  Dietary supplements and Vitamins. These help in maintaining the proper amount of nutrients in patients and keep them healthy.

Therapies

Various support groups and counseling sessions are available for patients suffering from celiac disease. As all the patients require some kind of support while going through the disease and suffering from symptoms like depression and weight loss. 

As set of medical professionals that are involved in treatment of celiac disease are:

• Gastroenterologist: Focuses of digestive system and its related disorders. 

• Nutritionist: Specializes in food and diet 

• Pediatrician: Provides medical care for infants, children and teenagers. 

• Primary care provider: Conducts an assessment, diagnoses, plans a diet in order to decrease the symptoms of the disease and conducts follow-ups with the patient. 

What should I do if I experience celiac disease?

• If a person is diagnosed with celiac disease the person should not eat any food containing gluten like wheat, rye and barley.

• Removing gluten from the diet or decrease in gluten consumption will be helpful for the patient with celiac disease. 

• The healing of the villi of the intestine will take two to three years in adults and six months in children. 

• A regular follow up visit to the doctor should be followed and the diet set should be followed all through life.

• In order to follow the gluten free diet, the patient is prevented from eating pasta, cereal and any other food containing gluten.

• Some less obvious sources containing gluten are ice-cream and salad dressing. Cross contamination is another source of gluten which happens when gluten free food comes accidently into contact with gluten containing food. 

• A person suffering from celiac disease should always follow a well-balanced diet. The diet should be made up of other types of flour like potato, rice, corn and soy.

• Further, in order to prevent the disease fresh fruit consumption is an integral part. The fruits should be fresh and not processed as artificial food contains gluten.

Take-home message

• In case of celiac disease proper care should be taken of the diet we consume (gluten free) and the testing of the disease related gene should be proper.

• Simple and fresh diet along with lifestyle tradition is effective in improving digestion. Ditch food with gluten and maintain a proper diet celiac disease can be evaded.