Coeliac disease
goodtoknow says: If you have coeliac disease you can live quite normally providing you avoid all foods containing gluten (such as flour, bread, pasta and biscuits). Coeliac disease is caused by a sensitivity to gluten and it can run in families. It can happen to children but is now much more common in adults. The average age of diagnosis is 45. Symptoms include tiredness, diarrhoea, stomach pains, and weight loss but improve rapidly once gluten is excluded. Experts reckon around 500,000 people have undiagnosed coeliac disease, if you think you have it, see your GP.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of coeliac disease from patient.co.uk, read on.
Coeliac disease is a condition of the small intestine (the gut). It can occur at any age. The small intestine is where food is absorbed. Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction of the gut to gluten, which is part of certain foods. Symptoms go if you do not eat any foods that contain gluten.
Who gets coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease affects about 1 in 100 people in the UK. Anyone, at any age, can develop coeliac disease. It is a condition that used to be associated with young children. However, it is now much more common in adults than children. The average age of diagnosis is about 45 years old. About 1 in 4 cases are now first diagnosed in people over the age of 60.
There is often a family history. About 1 in 20 close relatives of someone with coeliac disease will also develop it. That is - brother, sister, parent, or child.
More help and advice
- Find more info about coeliac disease, where you can eat out and much more at Coeliac City
- Tips on coping with coeliac disease
- Try our gluten-free recipes
- Do you suffer from coeliac disease? Chat with others
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