If you have ever encountered a person who tries to avoid bread, cookies, pasta or any food made from wheat or other whole grains, then you have met someone who is suffering from celiac disease.
It is a condition that affects the digestive system whose manifestations occur after an intake of food containing gluten, a protein that is found in wheat, rye or barley. This is a condition that is genetic in origin which means it is usually seen in families. It is both a problem of immune response and absorption of nutrients, which makes the condition a complicated one.
When people who suffer from this condition eat something that has gluten, the body sends an immune reaction to the area where the protein is present, specifically the linings of the gastrointestinal tract. The influx of an immune response results in the destruction of villi, which are the small, finger-like projections found in the small intestines that absorbs the nutrients in food to the bloodstream, causing malnutrition.
The malabsorption of nutrients becomes manifested in vomiting, abdominal discomfort, stomach upset, weight loss or changes in bowel movements and stool characteristics, and later, different changes in the bodily functions become apparent due to exhaustion and lack of the supply of vitamins and minerals. Some examples of these long term problems include changes in brain functioning, sensation and reaction to stimuli due to vitamin B deficiency; increased bleeding, presence of mouth sores, and predisposition to infection with depleted vitamin C supply; or anemia, joint pain, numbness and tingling sensation on the extremities, and seizures as a result of mineral deficiency.
Aside from the nutritional deficiencies, some of the complications of this condition would be intolerance to lactose, increased risk for developing some types of cancers, and changes in bone strength and density.
Because of the changes that celiac disease does to the gastrointestinal mucosa, it is also known by the names celiac sprue, gluten sensitive enteropathy or nontropical sprue. The presence of this condition may also be activated for the first time or aggravated during situations such as invasive or surgical procedure, pregnancy and birth, severe emotional stress or even heavy infection.
At present, there is no treatment discovered for this disease yet because what causes damage in the villi is also the same ones that protects us from being overwhelmed with infection. However, a dietary modification which is a gluten free diet, is needed to manage the condition effectively since staying free from gluten in a matter of two to three days is already enough to facilitate the healing of the wounded intestinal mucosa, but this has to be continued even after the absence of symptoms.
Another thing that must be remembered is that celiac disease is a lifelong condition, and it can reappear again when triggered by food and the aforementioned situations. Hence, aside from managing the physical condition of the individual suffering from the condition, it is also necessary to help the patients and the family as well to cope with the presence of the condition.