Celiac
Celiacs and the SCD
Celiac disease is an inherited, autoimmune disease. The lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats.
The intestines contain projections (called villi) that absorb nutrients. In undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease, these villi become flattened, and the ability to absorb nutrients properly is altered. As a result, several other organ systems may also be affected. The disease can develop at any point in life, from infancy to late adulthood.
Causes, Incidence, and Risk Factors
The exact cause of celiac disease is unknown. Once thought rare, celiac disease has recently been estimated to affect 1 of every 133 Americans. However, only a small fraction of people living with celiac disease in the United States have been diagnosed at this time.
Those with a family member with celiac disease are at greater risk for developing the disease. The disorder is most common in Caucasians and those of European ancestry. Women are affected more commonly than men.
There are numerous diseases and conditions associated with celiac disease, including:
• Anemia
• Lactose Intolerance
• Dermatitis herpetiformis (a burning, itching, blistering rash), and other skin disorders
• Type 1 diabeties
• Thyroid disease
• Down syndrome
• Unexplained infertility
• Miscarriage
• Osteoporosis or osteopenia
• Certain types of intestinal cancer
• Neurological conditions
• Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
The symptoms of celiac disease can vary significantly from person to person. Symptoms may be intestinal or seemingly non-intestinal in nature. This variability is part of the reason the diagnosis is frequently delayed. For example, one person may have constipation, a second may have diarrhea, and a third may have no irregularity in stools.
A partial listing of gastrointestinal symptoms:
• Abdominal Pain
• Abdominal distention, bloating, gas, indigestion
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite (may also be increased or unchanged)
• Diarrhea, chronic or occasional
• Lactose intolerance (common upon diagnosis, usually goes away following treatment)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stools that float, are foul smelling, bloody, or “fatty”
• Unexplained weight loss (although people can be overweight or of normal weight upon diagnosis)
Celiac Disease and SCD
The intestines contain projections (called villi) that absorb nutrients. In undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease, these villi become flattened, and the ability to absorb nutrients properly is altered. As a result, several other organ systems may also be affected. The disease can develop at any point in life, from infancy to late adulthood.
Causes, Incidence, and Risk Factors
The exact cause of celiac disease is unknown. Once thought rare, celiac disease has recently been estimated to affect 1 of every 133 Americans. However, only a small fraction of people living with celiac disease in the United States have been diagnosed at this time.
Those with a family member with celiac disease are at greater risk for developing the disease. The disorder is most common in Caucasians and those of European ancestry. Women are affected more commonly than men.
There are numerous diseases and conditions associated with celiac disease, including:
• Anemia
• Lactose Intolerance
• Dermatitis herpetiformis (a burning, itching, blistering rash), and other skin disorders
• Type 1 diabeties
• Thyroid disease
• Down syndrome
• Unexplained infertility
• Miscarriage
• Osteoporosis or osteopenia
• Certain types of intestinal cancer
• Neurological conditions
• Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
The symptoms of celiac disease can vary significantly from person to person. Symptoms may be intestinal or seemingly non-intestinal in nature. This variability is part of the reason the diagnosis is frequently delayed. For example, one person may have constipation, a second may have diarrhea, and a third may have no irregularity in stools.
A partial listing of gastrointestinal symptoms:
• Abdominal Pain
• Abdominal distention, bloating, gas, indigestion
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite (may also be increased or unchanged)
• Diarrhea, chronic or occasional
• Lactose intolerance (common upon diagnosis, usually goes away following treatment)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stools that float, are foul smelling, bloody, or “fatty”
• Unexplained weight loss (although people can be overweight or of normal weight upon diagnosis)
Celiac Disease and SCD