Celiac disease is an affection of the immune system, triggered by the ingestion of gluten in aliments. Gluten leads to lesions of the intestine. Gluten is a vegetal protein which can be found in cereals like rice, wheat, barley or rye. The lesions of the intestine can affect the normal absorption of nutrients, especially fats, calcium and iron.



Celiac disease is also known as Sprue celiac. The cause that triggers the Celiac disease is unknown, but medical search in the last years identified some genes which facilitate the risk of Celiac disease. People who have a mother, father, sister, brother, son or daughter with Celiac disease have a greater risk of developing this disease. External factors, like viral or bacterial infections, can cause several modifications of the intestine, especially in the case of those who are genetically predisposed to Celiac disease. Eating aliments which contain gluten triggers several immune reactions which can cause the intestine lesions that are characteristic for this disease. These lesions determine digestive disorders and malnutrition.



Actual genetic studies are focused on the connection between genes, immune and external factors. Research performed until now were not able to prove the real age of this disease or the mechanism of complications characteristic to Celiac disease. The symptoms of Celiac disease differ from case to case, from easy symptoms which are barely noticeable, to severe symptoms and complication which have a negative impact over daily life.

The symptoms of Celiac disease are: stomach bloating, meteorism, stomach discomfort- caused by bad digestion of the intestine, gastric pain, abnormal stool, diarrhea (the stool has a shinny and bright aspect and smells bad), severe weight loss, in spite of a good appetite, fatigue and weakness and throwing up.

Celiac disease can also lead to osteoporosis and other bone disease, infertility and lack of menstruation, delayed puberty, frequent respiratory infections, memory and concentration difficulty, mental disorders, like irritability in children and depression in adults. All these symptoms, which are unspecific, can most of the time delay the proper diagnosis.

The risk of Celiac disease is increased for people who have antecedents in their family. It has been proven scientifically, that people who have a first degree relative with Celiac disease, like mother, father, sister, brother, children, can developed the Celiac disease as well. People with celiac disease usually have other affections as well, like: dermatitis- frequent in adults, but can be found in children as well, osteoporosis, type I diabetes, auto immune thyroid, Down syndrome, Sjogren syndrome, antibody deficit or anemia.



There are lots of people interested in how to ease celiac disease symptoms. As a doctor, I have been asked several times how to ease celiac disease symptoms, and here is what I can tell you. Most of the times, a medication treatment is not required for celiac disease. In the case of children, a diet of iron and calcium is required and can ease the symptoms of celiac disease. Once you remove gluten from their diet, the symptoms usually disappear in 2 or 3 weeks. Once the intestine recovers, you can consider yourself cured. Medication is required only if there are severe complications and the symptoms persist.