subject: What is coeliac disease? [print this page] What is coeliac disease? What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease (pronounced see-liac, spelled coeliac disease in other countries) is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. Gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye is a protein, and triggers an immune reaction in people with coeliac disease. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, and lip balms. When people with coeliac disease eat foods or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging or destroying villithe tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine. Villi normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food one eats.
Coeliac disease is both a disease of malabsorptionmeaning nutrients are not absorbed properlyand an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Coeliac disease is also known as coeliac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Coeliac disease is genetic, meaning it runs in families. Sometimes the disease is triggeredor becomes active for the first timeafter surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress.
...but don't get confused!
Some symptoms may be mistaken as Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or wheat intolerance. Stress or getting older can also be a cause of confusion.
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be underweight or have lost weight to have coeliac disease. Most people are of normal weight or even overweight at diagnosis.
