Biology

1. What is coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.

Is a lifelong condition that occurs when gluten triggers an abnormal immune system response that damages the small intestine. Tony, finger-shaped tissues (villi) line the small intestine. The villi create a large surface that absorbs vitamins, sugars and other nutrients as food passes through the small intestine.

The function of the villi is to increase the surface area of the intestine so as to increase its capacity to absorb nutrients and liquid from food passing through it.

2. What happens to a person with coeliac disease?

They will inevitably cause themselves serious harm, primarily to the intestine and secondarily to other organs. The walls of the intestine are lined with minute finger like projections called villi. Intestinal villi absorb nutrients from ingested food. When a Celiac ingests gluten, his/her villi flatten out and no longer perform their function. Nutrients in food are thus no longer assimilated and are passed out of the body in the faeces. Celiac’s who ingest gluten effectively put their intestine out of service; their bodies no longer receive the necessary nutrition and consequently they lose weight, their growth is stunted and they become ill. Gluten intolerance symptoms vary, the most noticeable being diarrhoea, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite and vomiting. However, sufferers may also develop other less immediately apparent symptoms, such as iron and calcium deficiency.

People who have celiac disease may have periods when their symptoms seem worse. Or symptoms may sometimes not be noticed at all.

A child who has celiac disease may not grow and gain weight normally because the child's body is not absorbing needed vitamins and other nutrients. Children who have untreated celiac disease can become very ill. They may need hospitalization for treatment with fluids and medicine to restore nutrients. These treatments are usually short-term, and most children recover completely.

Adults who have celiac disease have a slightly higher-than-average risk of lymphoma, which usually develops in the intestine. They also may have a slightly increased risk of developing cancer of the esophagus.

3. Treatment - how do we deal with coeliac disease?

Once you suspect that you have celiac disease, visit your doctor. A doctor will conduct a blood test, or a small bowel biopsy to determine whether the patient is celiac.

If the test proves that you are celiac, you must take care of yourself. Remove gluten from your diet completely, and read the ingredients on everything you intend to consume. You should specifically look for “gluten free” foods rather than just “wheat free.” There is no known cure for celiac disease, but doctors will advise you to live gluten-free.