Publisher's Synopsis
Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disease of the small intestine that affects genetically predisposed people.
Ingestion of gluten, a protein found in some grains such as wheat, barley, and rye, triggers an immune reaction that damages the intestinal villi, causing a variety of symptoms and complications.
Symptoms:
Gastrointestinal symptoms: The most common symptoms of celiac disease include chronic diarrhea, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, malabsorption, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting.
Extraintestinal symptoms: In some cases, celiac disease can manifest itself with extraintestinal symptoms, such as fatigue, anemia, dermatitis herpetiformis (skin rash), bone and joint pain, mouth ulcers, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis of celiac disease is based on a blood test for anti-gliadin and anti-endomysial antibodies, followed by an intestinal biopsy to confirm damage to the villi.
