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Celiac Disease
Celiac disease damages the lining of the small intestine, preventing the absorption of nutrients from certain foods. Gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats triggers the impairment. Basically, the body attacks itself every time a person with Celiac ingests gluten.

Initial Symptoms
> > All symptoms are gastrointestinal. Many symptoms, including varying appetite and weight, differ from person to person, making it difficult for diagnosis to be made promptly.
 * Abdominal pain, bloating, gas, or indigestion
 * Constipation
 * Decreased appetite (may also be increased or unchanged)
 * Diarrhea, either constant or off and on
 * Lactose intolerance (common when the person is diagnosed, usually goes away after treatment)
 * Nausea and vomiting
 * Unexplained weight loss (although people can be overweight or of normal weight)

Treatment
Celiac Disease cannot be cured, but a lifelong gluten-free diet will cause symptoms to go away, and the villi in the lining of the intestines to heal. This means avoiding foods containing wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Doctors may prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements to correct nutritional deficiencies. A well-balanced, gluten-free diet is the only treatment possible. Some with Celiac get help from a dietitian who specializes in Celiac disease and the gluten-free diet, or support groups to help cope with the disease and diet.

Side Effects of Disease
People with celiac disease are more likely to have: > > > Because vitamins, minerals, and other food deficiencies, the following symptoms may develop over time: >> >> >> Children with Celiac disease may have: >>> >>> The following are signs and may be used as tests for the disease: >>
 * Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjogren syndrome
 * Addison's disease
 * Down syndrome
 * Intestinal cancer
 * Intestinal lymphoma
 * Lactose intolerance
 * Thyroid disease
 * Type 1 diabetes
 * Bruising easily
 * Depression or anxiety
 * Fatigue
 * Growth delay in children
 * Hair loss
 * Itchy skin (dermatitis herpetiformis)
 * Missed menstrual periods
 * Mouth ulcers
 * Muscle cramps and joint pain
 * Nosebleeds
 * Seizures
 * Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
 * Unexplained short height
 * Defects in the tooth enamel and changes in tooth color
 * Delayed puberty
 * Diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or vomiting
 * Irritable and fussy behavior
 * Poor weight gain
 * Slowed growth and shorter than normal height for their age
 * Albumin (may be low)
 * Alkaline phosphatase (high level may be a sign of bone loss)
 * Clotting factor abnormalities
 * Cholesterol (may be low)
 * Complete blood count (CBC - test for anemia)
 * Liver enzymes (transaminases)
 * Prothrombin time

Prevention
Celiac cannot be prevented, but symptoms and damage done to the small intestine can be reversed with a gluten-free diet. One with Celiac Disease has to check the label of everything that they eat everytime, because manufactruers switch things up occationally. Everything from food to medicine to makeup to play doh to shampoo needs to be checked out. Scientists are working on inventing pills that would allow someone with Celiac to consume gluten, but for now the pills would only work with small amounts of gluten.

How is Celiac inherited?
Celiac depends on genes and enviornment. The genes for Celic Disease are HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. Celic is a recessive trait so when someone has it, that means both of their parents are usually carriers of the trait. Everyone in the immediate family should get tested because the disease tends to cluster in families and they have a higher chance of developing the disease.

===Celiac disease is most common in Caucasians and persons of European ancestry, and women are more at risk than men. ===