|
|
Overview for Dietary and Lifestyle or Treatment info
see links at bottom
Coeliac disease is a condition
of the bowel caused by an adverse reaction in the lining of the intestine
produced when a protein found in food called 'gluten' is eaten. This
intolerance to gluten which is found in the cereals, wheat, rye, barley
and *oats, causes the bowel lining to become irritated, inflamed and
damaged. As a consequence, the absorption of food is affected resulting
in unpleasant symptoms including, diarrhoea, weight loss, abdominal
pain, distension, vomiting, anaemia and failure to thrive in children.
This condition may be first noted in children at the stage of development
when the baby makes the change from milk to solids.
In later life, coeliac disease is noted more frequently in the 30 to
40 year old age group and in the UK there is approximately one case
in 1,500 of the population. Surprisingly, this level reaches 1 in 300
in Ireland. Those of Mediterranean ancestry do not appear to be affected
to any degree.
Parents of the infants with this disease may first realise that things
are not right when their baby begins to produce abnormal stools, which
are pale in colour and more frequent. There may be a failure to reach
predicted weights over the months following and the baby's abdomen may
appear 'blown up' and distended.
In the older age group, symptoms will often reflect deficiencies of
central food constituents, due to the fact that they have not been absorbed
properly. Tiredness may occur, often due to iron deficiency, as iron
is essential to the formation of red blood cells. The bones may be involved
causing pain and eventually perhaps deformity.
Your GP will confirm whether or not you are coeliac by taking a full
family history and a number of investigations.
* some patients with coeliac disease are able to tolerate oats and
others cannot. Because of this the Coeliac Society recommends sufferers
avoid oats, particularly since they may also have been contaminated
with wheat during processing.
Overview | Orthodox
Treatments | Dietary
and Lifestyle
|
|
