The signs and symptoms of celiac disease can vary greatly and differ in children and adults. Many other diseases have similar symptoms to celiac disease, which complicates diagnosis. Its severity can fall anywhere along a spectrum, ranging from completely asymptomatic to mild symptoms to a life-threatening disease resulting in death. Patients with celiac disease may have diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or weight loss or gain. Adult patients frequently report that they have a lifelong history of stomach problems and are always on the thin side of their physique.
Many people with celiac disease have increased gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, and large, bulky, foul-smelling stools. Undigested food reaches the colon, where beneficial bacteria help digest it. This causes problems for people with celiac disease. The small intestine, which is the organ of digestion and absorption of nutrients, is damaged in this disease, causing undigested food.
The symptoms of celiac disease include these.
Gastrointestinal symptoms:
Celiac disease is a condition that makes your body react badly to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten damages your small intestine and prevents it from absorbing nutrients. This can cause many problems with your digestion and health. Some of the common gastrointestinal symptoms of celiac disease are:
Gas and bloating:
Eating gluten in celiac disease causes inflammation and harm to the small intestine, resulting in poor nutrient absorption, digestive discomfort, and the onset of gas and bloating.
Abdominal pain:
You may have cramps, aches, or sharp pains in your belly.
Chronic diarrhea:
You may have loose, watery stools that happen more than three times a day. They may be pale, bulky, and foul-smelling.
Constipation:
You may have hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass. You may feel like you still need to go after a bowel movement.
Nausea and vomiting:
You may feel sick or throw up after eating gluten.
These symptoms can vary from person to person and may be mild or severe. They can also affect your growth, development, and quality of life. If you have any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor and get tested for celiac disease.
Systemic Symptoms:
Systemic symptoms are those that affect the whole body or multiple organs. Celiac disease is a condition that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is eaten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Some of the systemic symptoms of celiac disease are:
Weight loss:
Gluten triggers an immune response that damages the villi, which are tiny finger-like projections that help absorb nutrients from food. This can lead to malabsorption and weight loss.
Recurrent dehydration:
Malabsorption can also cause diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
Fatigue:
Lack of nutrients and dehydration can make a person feel tired and weak.
Bone pain and arthritis:
Malabsorption can cause calcium and vitamin D deficiency, which can affect bone health and cause pain, fractures, and inflammation of the joints.
Numbness or tingling in arms and legs:
Malabsorption can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, which can affect the nerves and cause numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the extremities.
Missed and irregular periods, infertility and recurrent miscarriages:
Malabsorption can cause hormonal imbalance and affect the reproductive system, leading to menstrual problems, infertility, and miscarriages.
Mouth ulcers:
Malabsorption can cause iron deficiency and anemia, which can affect the mucous membranes and cause mouth ulcers.
Hair and nail changes:
Malabsorption can cause protein and zinc deficiency, which can affect the growth and quality of hair and nails.
Rashes:
Celiac disease can cause a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis, which is characterized by itchy, blistering rashes on the elbows, knees, buttocks, and back.
These are some of the systemic symptoms of celiac disease. A doctor can diagnose celiac disease by testing you. You should seek medical advice if you experience these symptoms. A gluten-free diet can help manage the symptoms and prevent complications.
Celiac disease affects young children and adults differently. It can cause failure to thrive, weight loss, stunted growth in children, and in adults. They may feed poorly and be colicky. People of any age can have diarrhea, which can be mild or severe. A skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis results from celiac disease. Itchy, blistering rashes on the elbows, knees, buttocks, and back characterize this condition. For more details
The Spectrum of Multisystem Diseases Associated With symptoms of Celiac Disease
