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Celiac Disease

Home > Illnesses and Disabilities Home > Types of Illnesses & Disabilities > Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's defense system, called the immune system, attacks the lining of the small intestine. But the immune system only does this when the person eats gluten, a substance found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten may also be in other products like medicines, vitamins, and even the glue on stamps and envelopes.

Symptoms of celiac disease include:

• gas
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• feeling very tired
• becoming irritable or depressed
• weight loss
• a very itchy skin rash with blisters
• slowed growth (in children)
• not being able to get pregnant or repeated miscarriage

Celiac disease can damage the small intestine. When this happens, your body can't absorb all the nutrients it needs. This can lead to malnourishment and anemia (lack of healthy red blood cells).

Celiac disease is genetic, meaning that it runs in families. Blood tests can help your doctor find out if you have the disease. Your doctor may also need to examine a small piece of tissue from your small intestine. The only treatment for celiac disease is to eat a diet free of gluten.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Celiac Disease - This publication provides information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments for celiac disease, a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.

   http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm

2.   What I need to know about Celiac Disease - This booklet defines celiac disease and explains its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It includes some examples of a gluten-free diet.

   http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac_ez/

3.   Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Survival Guide (Copyright © NFCA) - This booklet provides tips and resources for those recently diagnosed with celiac disease on how to eat a gluten-free diet.

   http://www.celiaccentral.org/SiteData/docs/NFCAGuide/0fa06a781921bd969299b15a6fb9...

4.   Quick Start Diet Guide for Celiac Disease (Copyright © CDF/GIG) - This brochure contains a simple overview of the gluten free diet and tips for those recently diagnosed with celiac disease.

   http://www.celiac.org/downloads/CDF-Quickstart2008-small.pdf

Organizations

1. Celiac Disease Foundation
2. Celiac Sprue Association/United States of America, Inc.
3. National Foundation for Celiac Awareness

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated May 15, 2008.