Celiac disease is a reaction to products that contain gluten , which is a protein that we can find in cereals such as wheat, oats, rye and barley. This disease causes damage to the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing food components. People with this condition may suffer from more severe problems and even malnutrition. At FastlyHealwe explain the symptoms, causes and treatment of celiac disease .
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Symptoms of celiac disease
The symptoms of celiac disease can change from one person to another and this can complicate the diagnosis of it, although doctors consider that it is an underdiagnosed disease, that is, it is not diagnosed properly, but generally the symptoms are:
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weightloss.
- Decreased appetite.
- Abdominal pain.
In children the following symptoms may occur:
- Irritability.
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Delayed growth and weight gain.
- Color change in tooth enamel.
Additionally, the lack of nutrient absorption results in other symptoms:
- Fatigue.
- Muscle cramps.
- Absence of menstruation.
- Itchy skin .
- Seizures
- Hair loss.
- Bruising .
- Absence of menstruation.
Having these symptoms will not be the only way to diagnose celiac disease , for this it is necessary to perform an intestinal biopsy, where a piece of tissue is removed from the intestine to see the damage and blood tests that will determine if the tTGA or EMA antibodies are present that will indicate if there is celiac disease.
Causes of celiac disease
Our intestines have villi that are responsible for absorbing the components of food, when a person is intolerant to gluten, the immune system reacts causing damage and reducing these villi, resulting in malnutrition, since the components of the food will not be absorbed .
The causes of celiac disease are unknown, but it can develop at any stage of life, with people with family members suffering from this disorder having a higher risk. It also increases the risk of having other diseases such as arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, immune disorders or intestinal cancer.
Treatment for celiac disease
Celiac disease has no cure , it can only be treated and is based on a gluten-free diet for life, in this way the villi of the intestine will recover and the symptoms will be alleviated in a few weeks. It is recommended that a few months after starting the treatment you carry out a check to see if your body is reacting favorably. Additionally, vitamin supplements can be prescribed to modify any nutritional deficiency.
Here are some forbidden foods for celiacs :
- Infusions or drinks made from cereals such as beer and malt.
- Bread and wheat, oat or rye flour.
- Chocolate, unless the packaging specifies that it is gluten-free.
- Pastas.
- Bakery in general.
- Chocolate drinks.
On the other hand, some foods allowed for celiacs are:
- Carbonated drinks.
- Infusions of chamomile, pennyroyal mint and lemon verbena.
- Natural coffee (not instant).
- Milk, cheese, butter and cream
- Eggs.
- Cornmeal.
- Seafood, fish and fresh meat.
- Vegetables, vegetables and legumes.
Prognosis and possible complications
As long as celiac disease is diagnosed and treated in time, you can lead an absolutely normal life . Generally, full recovery in adults is 2 or 3 years after starting treatment and in children 3 to 6 months, in addition, long-term damage to the intestine is not usual.
However, if celiac disease is not treated, its consequences can be serious for your health, since you could develop osteoporosis , anemia, infertility, some type of intestinal cancer or immune disorders.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Celiac disease: symptoms, causes and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.