What causes coeliac disease?
The cause is a 'sensitivity' to gluten. Gluten occurs in common foods including wheat, barley, and rye, and any foods made from these such as flour, bread, pasta and biscuits. People with coeliac disease make antibodies against gluten. Antibodies are proteins in the immune system, which normally attack infecting bacteria, viruses, and other 'germs'. In effect, the gut 'mistakes' gluten to be harmful, and reacts against it as if it were fighting off an infection.
Because of the antibody 'attack' against gluten, inflammation develops in the lining of the gut. This stops the lining of the gut working properly. The cells that normally absorb food into the bloodstream do not work so well.
Coeliac disease can develop in babies. Older children or adults who have not previously had problems may also become 'gluten sensitive' at some point in their life and develop coeliac disease. It is not known why the immune system of some people becomes sensitised to gluten.
What are the symptoms of coeliac disease?
The inflammation in the lining of the gut stops food from being properly absorbed. You then do not absorb nutrients very well into your body. A variety of symptoms may then develop.
Babies
Symptoms first develop soon after weaning when the baby starts solid foods containing gluten. The baby may fail to gain weight and become miserable. As food is not being absorbed properly, the faeces (stools) may be pale and bulky. Smelly diarrhoea may occur. The abdomen (tummy) may become swollen. The baby may have repeated vomiting.
Older children
Poor absorption of food may cause deficiencies of vitamins, iron, and other nutrients. This may cause anaemia and other problems. As the fat part of the diet is poorly absorbed, the faeces may be pale, smelly, and difficult to flush away. Diarrhoea may develop. However, the symptoms may not be very typical or obvious. If the gut and bowel symptoms are only mild then the first thing that may be noticed is poor growth.
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Anne Pitt, about 1 year
I was diagnosed with coeliac in September 07 and so far ive been finding it very difficult, specially over Christmas. One question id like to ask is 'Can you have the disease for years - maybe all your life - without knowing, then eventually the symptoms become worse and its diagnosed?
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