What is Coeliac Disease?
Coeliac disease is a common digestive condition where a person has a reaction to gluten. Coeliac disease damages the small intestine, and stops people absorbing nutrients from food.
The small intestine is shaded on the picture to the right.
People who have Coeliac disease cannot tolerate gluten a protein which is found in:• Wheat
• Barley
• Rye
Gluten is found in a lot of foods but may also be found in products we wouldn't think of such as medicines, vitamins and lip balms.
How Gluten Damages The Small Intestine
When people with Coeliac disease eat gluten or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by destroying villi.
Villi is found on the lining of the small intestine. Villi normally allows nutrients to be absorbed from food, through the walls of the small intestine to the bloodstream, meaning people with Coeliac disease, nutrients are not absorbed properly and they have an abnormal immune reaction to gluten.
Diagnosing Coeliac
Disease
If people have symptoms of Coeliac or are at high risk of developing it, there is a two step screening process to find out. 1. A blood test to help identify people who may have
Coeliac disease.
2. A biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
A blood test is taken at your local GP and they will test this for antibodies in your blood stream for people who have
Coeliac disease. If antibodies are found in the blood test patients are then referred for a biopsy.
A biopsy is carried out in hospital by a gastroenterologist, an endoscope ( a thin, flexible tube with a light) will be inserted into the mouth of the small intestine, then they will take samples of the lining of the small intestine to be looked at under a microscope for signs of Coeliac disease. biopsy
Signs And Symptoms Of Coeliac Disease
Symptoms of Coeliac disease can range from mild to severe, and often come and go.
Common symptoms:• Diarrhoea
• Bloating or abdominal stomach pain
• A noisy stomach and passing wind
• Weight loss
• Tiredness, which may be a sign of iron deficiencyanaemia
• Vomiting
• Tingling and numbness in hands and feet
• Swelling of your hands, feet, arms and legs caused by a build-up of fluid
How Coeliac Disease Affects People.
Coeliac disease affects people in a lot of ways. Coeliac affects people in daily routines such as.
• Shopping
• Eating out
• Having lunch at work or collage
• Having time off for appointments
• Work life or college
• Explaining to people why they can only eat certain foods
Everyday life and routines like this are affected. Therefore it can affect people in a lot of ways and make them feel stressed or maybe even depressed because of having to stay on a gluten free lifestyle and ensuring no cross contamination of gluten goes into the
