Are there any complications with coeliac disease?
Untreated coeliac disease
Apart from the symptoms listed above, people with coeliac disease have an increased risk of:
- Developing osteoporosis ('thinning of the bones') due to the nutritional deficiencies which occur with coeliac disease.
- Developing tumours of the gut in later life. These are rare, but if you notice bloody or black motions, lose weight, or develop abdominal pains or persistent diarrhoea, tell your doctor.
- Developing an ulcer of the small intestine which may bleed (but again, this is rare).
- Developing other immune related diseases (autoimmune diseases) such as Type 1 diabetes.
- Having a baby with low birth weight and with spina bifida if you become pregnant.
A common mistake is to eat small amounts of food, which contain gluten. This may be unintentional. However, some people wrongly think that 'a small amount won't matter'. It does. A well known example is thinking that the small amount of bread in a communion wafer will not matter. Even this small amount of gluten is sufficient to cause symptoms, and maintain the increased risks associated with coeliac disease detailed above.
Some people with coeliac disease may not realise they are taking small amounts of gluten. They may feel well, or ignore mild symptoms such as bloating or mild diarrhoea. Again, the increased risks (gut tumours, osteoporosis, etc) still remain if any gluten is eaten.
So, in short, it is vital to completely avoid gluten to remain symptom free, and eliminate the increased risk of developing other serious problems.
Treated coeliac disease - that is, eating no gluten at all
If you have coeliac disease but do not eat any gluten, you can expect to be free of symptoms and to have a normal healthy life span. The increased risk of developing other autoimmune disorders reduces. After 1-5 years of gluten free diet, there is no increased risk of gut cancer and your life expectancy is the same as the general population.
Further help and information
Coeliac UK Suites A - D, Octagon Court, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 2HS Helpline: 0870 444 8804 (10-4 Mon-Fri) Web: www.coeliac.org.uk
© EMIS and PIP 2006 Updated: December 2006
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
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Average rating:
JOHNEKIN, about 1 year
I HAVE BEEN COELIAC SINCE MAY 2007 I AM NOW ON A STRICT GULTEN FREE , DIET,HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY ONE ELSE HAVING A SKIN THAT ITCHES ALL THE TIME, ITS MAINLY IN MY HAIR AND FACE.FOFA
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