About Coeliac Disease

Some people have dietary restrictions such that they must avoid certain foods. People with celiac disease have a genetic problem in which they cannot consume gluten, which is a type of carbohydrate found in oats, barley and other grains. People with celiac disease experience problems with their digestive system when they consume gluten.

Identification

Medline explains that celiac disease is a condition in which a patient's immune system is abnormally sensitive. Celiac disease affects the intestines because they are the part of the body where a nutrient called gluten is absorbed. When patients with celiac disease consume gluten, the immune system attacks the intestinal tissue, resulting in inflammation and the destruction of the villi in the intestines.

Celiac Disease and Villi

The villi are small protrusions in the intestines that are shaped like fingers. The purpose of the villi is to maximize the surface area of the intestines. The main purpose of the intestines is to absorb nutrients, and the villi help to maximize the surface area of the intestines, which allows for better nutrient absorption. With celiac disease the villi get blunted, which means that the surface area of the intestines is greatly reduced.

Cause

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) celiac disease is a genetic disorder, which means that it runs in families. Patients with celiac disease have a problem with their immune system that causes it to identify gluten as potentially infectious.

Symptoms

Patients with celiac disease often have chronic diarrhea as well as pain and bloating in their abdomen. Some patients experience vomiting and/or constipation. The bowel movements of patients with celiac disease may be pale, foul-smelling or fatty. The chronic diarrhea can cause malnutrition in adults, resulting in conditions such as iron-deficiency anemia. In children it can cause stunted growth and failure to thrive.

Treatment

The simplest way to treat celiac disease is to avoid gluten consumption. Because celiac disease only causes symptoms in response to gluten, avoiding it keeps the immune system from being activated. The intestinal damage will typically heal in three to six months after a gluten-free diet has begun.