Celiac Disease - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Peter Rodrick
November 01, 2008
Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. Oats may contain gluten as well. When a person with celiac disease eats foods containing gluten, an immune reaction occurs in the small intestine, resulting in damage to the surface of the small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients from food.
Cause of Celiac Disease
The cause of Celiac Disease, also known as celiac sprue, or gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE), is unknown. Research indicates that Celiac Disease is strongly associated with a group of genes on Chromosome 6. These genes (HLA class II) are involved in the regulation of the body's immune response to the gluten protein fractions.
The disease sometimes emerges after some sort of distress to the body such as pregnancy, childbirth, illness, severe emotional stress, physical injury, or surgery.
Signs and Symptoms
Some common symptoms of celiac disease are diarrhea, decreased appetite, stomachache and bloating, poor growth, and weight loss. Many kids are diagnosed with the problem between 6 months and 2 years of age. It makes sense because, at this time, kids are getting their first taste of gluten in foods. For some people, the problems occur gradually and the symptoms may be terrible one week and not as bad the next. Because of this, some people aren't diagnosed with the celiac disease until they are older. The problem is chronic, which means that the symptoms may go away and come back over and over again.
The disease can appear at any time in a persons life although research showing prevalence doesn't change much between childhood and adulthood would suggest most cases appear when a person is growing up (2). Symptoms can also vary considerably throughout a persons life. For example, when a celiac disease sufferer is in their teens gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and cramping may be most prominent, in their 30's the disease may present mainly as fatigue and depression, and finally in middle to old-age osteoporosis may be most troubling.
Children can develop symptoms of celiac disease once gluten has been introduced in to their diet — usually sometime between 6 months and 2 years of age. Infants are often first introduced to gluten when they "graduate" from rice cereal and start a single grain cereal with barley or Cheerios, etc.
Symptoms can hit at any age. The Celiac disease can become symptomatic after a case of viral gastroenteritis. There may be other triggers that bring on the symptoms. Some lucky individuals may have the genetic predisposition to Celiac disease and never develop symptoms.
Prevention
Breastfeeding and delaying the introduction of foods containing gluten until after four months is suggested to prevent children from developing coeliac disease. This would avoid exposure to gluten as a young baby before the gut barrier has developed fully. This association is currently under investigation and a definitive way to stop the disease from developing is not known yet.
What is the treatment for celiac disease?
The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet--that is, to avoid all foods that contain gluten. For most people, following this diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Improvements begin within days of starting the diet, and the small intestine is usually completely healed--meaning the villi are intact and working--in 3 to 6 months. (It may take up to 2 years for older adults.)
For most people, following this diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Improvements begin within days of starting the diet. The small intestine is usually completely healed in 3 to 6 months in children and younger adults and within 2 years for older adults. Healed means a person now has villi that can absorb nutrients from food into the bloodstream.
Visit Home Remedies. Do not forget to visit Breast Enlargement Capsules and Breast Serum Natural Breast Enlargement
Cause of Celiac Disease
The cause of Celiac Disease, also known as celiac sprue, or gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE), is unknown. Research indicates that Celiac Disease is strongly associated with a group of genes on Chromosome 6. These genes (HLA class II) are involved in the regulation of the body's immune response to the gluten protein fractions.
The disease sometimes emerges after some sort of distress to the body such as pregnancy, childbirth, illness, severe emotional stress, physical injury, or surgery.
Signs and Symptoms
Some common symptoms of celiac disease are diarrhea, decreased appetite, stomachache and bloating, poor growth, and weight loss. Many kids are diagnosed with the problem between 6 months and 2 years of age. It makes sense because, at this time, kids are getting their first taste of gluten in foods. For some people, the problems occur gradually and the symptoms may be terrible one week and not as bad the next. Because of this, some people aren't diagnosed with the celiac disease until they are older. The problem is chronic, which means that the symptoms may go away and come back over and over again.
The disease can appear at any time in a persons life although research showing prevalence doesn't change much between childhood and adulthood would suggest most cases appear when a person is growing up (2). Symptoms can also vary considerably throughout a persons life. For example, when a celiac disease sufferer is in their teens gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and cramping may be most prominent, in their 30's the disease may present mainly as fatigue and depression, and finally in middle to old-age osteoporosis may be most troubling.
Children can develop symptoms of celiac disease once gluten has been introduced in to their diet — usually sometime between 6 months and 2 years of age. Infants are often first introduced to gluten when they "graduate" from rice cereal and start a single grain cereal with barley or Cheerios, etc.
Symptoms can hit at any age. The Celiac disease can become symptomatic after a case of viral gastroenteritis. There may be other triggers that bring on the symptoms. Some lucky individuals may have the genetic predisposition to Celiac disease and never develop symptoms.
Prevention
Breastfeeding and delaying the introduction of foods containing gluten until after four months is suggested to prevent children from developing coeliac disease. This would avoid exposure to gluten as a young baby before the gut barrier has developed fully. This association is currently under investigation and a definitive way to stop the disease from developing is not known yet.
What is the treatment for celiac disease?
The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet--that is, to avoid all foods that contain gluten. For most people, following this diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Improvements begin within days of starting the diet, and the small intestine is usually completely healed--meaning the villi are intact and working--in 3 to 6 months. (It may take up to 2 years for older adults.)
For most people, following this diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Improvements begin within days of starting the diet. The small intestine is usually completely healed in 3 to 6 months in children and younger adults and within 2 years for older adults. Healed means a person now has villi that can absorb nutrients from food into the bloodstream.
Visit Home Remedies. Do not forget to visit Breast Enlargement Capsules and Breast Serum Natural Breast Enlargement
Print
Email
