Celiac Disease
Sutter Davis Hospital Gastroenterology

Definition
Celiac disease is also known as Celiac Sprue, or Non-Tropical Sprue. Celiac disease damages your small intestines so that they cannot break down and absorb food normally. Celiac disease can develop at any age. Celiac disease that is left untreated for a long time, or for which treatment does not work can be very serious.  Celiac disease causes your body to react badly to gluten or gliadin from grain.

Causes
Scientists think that celiac disease may be caused by a problem with the immune system, but the exact cause of celiac disease is not known. You are more likely to have celiac disease if someone else in your family has it. This disease is most common in white people whose families come from northern Europe.

Symptoms
Celiac disease can affect each person differently. You may live with the disease for a long time before you know you have it, or you may get it as a baby. Babies with celiac disease may grow slowly, or not at all. Following are the most common signs and symptoms of celiac disease:

• Anemia (less red cells in your blood).
• Bad smelling, loose, large bowel movements (BMs). They may also be oily or greasy and float. You may also have gas.
• Bone pain or osteoporosis (brittle bones).
• Long term diarrhea.
• Missed menstrual periods or infertility (trouble getting pregnant).
• Mouth sores.
• Numbness or tingling in your legs, and muscle cramps.
• Pale skin and bruising.
• Skin rash that is very itchy.
• Teeth that are discolored, and have lost their enamel.
• Stomach pain, bloating, and weight loss.
• Weakness, low energy, and not wanting to eat.

Treatment
Celiac disease is treated by not eating any foods that have gluten in them. This includes anything made with wheat, rye, barley or oats. Gluten is also in many packaged foods and is added to food by restaurants.

• You may feel better in a few days after you start your new diet. Damage in your intestines is usually completely healed in three to six months, but may take longer.
• Medicines like steroids are sometimes used to treat symptoms that do not get better with diet changes. Some of the medicines used to treat celiac disease have side effects.
• Other medicines may also be used to treat your celiac disease. Your caregiver will tell you if you need them.
• You may need to take a vitamin supplement that contains iron, folate, and vitamin B12. Your body may also need a calcium and vitamin D supplement.

Support

• Celiac Disease Foundation
  13251 Ventura Blvd #1
  Studio City, CA91604
  Phone: 1-818-990-2354
  www.celiac.org

• Celiac Sprue Association
  P.O. Box 31700
  Omaha, NE68131
  Phone: 1-402-558-0600
  www.csaceliacs.org