What are the symptoms of celiac disease, and what are the treatments?
Symptoms of celiac disease vary from person to person. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system or in other parts of the body. Digestive symptoms are more common in infants and young children and may include * abdominal bloating and pain * chronic diarrhea * vomiting * constipation * pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool * weight loss Irritability is another common symptom in children. Malabsorption of nutrients during the years when nutrition is critical to a child’s normal growth and development can result in other problems such as failure to thrive in infants, delayed growth and short stature, delayed puberty, and dental enamel defects of the permanent teeth. Adults are less likely to have digestive symptoms and may instead have one or more of the following: * unexplained iron-deficiency anemia * fatigue * bone or joint pain * arthritis * bone loss or osteoporosis * depression or anxiety * tingling numbness in the hands and feet * seizures * missed menstrual periods * infertility or
Symptoms of celiac disease include chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive (in children), and fatigue, but these may be absent, and symptoms in other organ systems have been described. A growing portion of diagnoses are being made in asymptomatic persons as a result of increased screening. At present, the only effective treatment is a life-long gluten-free diet. No medication exists that will prevent damage or prevent the body from attacking the gut when gluten is present. Strict adherence to the diet allows the intestines to heal, leading to resolution of all symptoms in most cases and, depending on how soon the diet is begun, can also eliminate the heightened risk of osteoporosis and intestinal cancer. Dietician input is generally requested to ensure the patient is aware which foods contain gluten, which foods are safe, and how to have a balanced diet despite the limitations. In many countries, gluten-free products are available on prescription and may be reimbursed by health insurance p
