Celiac Disease

Also called: Celiac sprue, Gluten-sensitive enteropathy, Nontropical sprue

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Celiac Disease is theNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

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Summary

Celiac disease is an immune disease in which people can't eat gluten because it will damage their small intestine. If you have celiac disease and eat foods with gluten, your immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It may also be in other products like vitamins and supplements, hair and skin products, toothpastes, and lip balm.

Celiac disease affects each person differently. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system, or in other parts of the body. One person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person may be irritable or depressed. Irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children. Some people have no symptoms.

Celiac disease is genetic. Blood tests can help your doctor diagnose the disease. Your doctor may also need to examine a small piece of tissue from your small intestine. Treatment is a diet free of gluten.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

Celiac Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
Celiac Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - PDF
Celiac Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Going Gluten Free? Necessary for Some, Optional for Others (National Institutes of Health)Also in Spanish

Symptoms

Symptoms and Causes of Celiac Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)Also in Spanish
Symptoms of Celiac Disease (University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center) - PDF

Diagnosis and Tests

Antibody Blood Tests (University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center) - PDF
Celiac Disease Diagnosis: Endoscopic Biopsy (University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center)
Celiac Disease Screening (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
Celiac Disease Testing (for Health Care Professionals) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Treatments and Therapies

Treatment and Follow Up (Celiac Disease Foundation)
Treatment for Celiac Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)Also in Spanish

Living With

Celiac Disease Diet: How Do I Get Enough Grains?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Eating, Diet, and Nutrition for Celiac Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)Also in Spanish
Follow-Up Testing (University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center) - PDF
Gluten-Free Diet Guide for Families(North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) - PDFAlso in Spanish
Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods (Food and Drug Administration)
Quick Start Gluten Free Diet Guide for Celiac Disease and Non Celiac Sensitivity(Gluten Intolerance Group) - PDF
Restaurant Dining: Seven Tips for Staying Gluten Free (Gluten Intolerance Group) - PDF
Sources of Gluten (Celiac Disease Foundation)
What Can I Eat? (Celiac Disease Foundation)

Related Issues

Associated Autoimmune Diseases (Gluten Intolerance Group) - PDF
Celiac Disease and Thyroid Conditions (Gluten Intolerance Group) - PDF
Dental Enamel Defects and Celiac Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Dermatitis Herpetiformis: Skin Manifestation of Celiac Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Diabetes and Celiac Disease (Gluten Intolerance Group) - PDF
What People with Celiac Disease Need to Know about Osteoporosis (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Specifics

Dermatitis Herpetiformis (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Poorly Responsive Celiac Disease (Celiac Disease Foundation)