Can an adult get celiac disease? Celiac disease in children and adults: symptoms, treatment, photo, disease

Celiac disease - chronic inflammation small intestine, the cause of which is hereditary intolerance to the protein gliadin, which is part of cereals. At the same time, a connection was established with the autoimmune nature of the disease.

The disease affects people different ages. Celiac disease in adults occurs more often in women at 30–40 years of age, in men at 40–50 years of age. There may be a latent course of the disease in childhood. It is known that women get sick 4 times more often.

The provoking factor for the manifestation of symptoms may be viral infection, chronic diseases digestive tract accompanied by a lack of enzymes.

Progression of the disease depends on adherence to a strict diet that excludes gliadin.

Intestinal symptoms

Intestinal damage is expressed in frequent stool. Celiac disease leads to the destruction of the cells of the small intestine, which are involved in the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates to the degree of breakdown necessary for absorption into the blood. Diarrhea is caused by increased intestinal motility in response to undigested food debris.

The patient experiences diarrhea 5–6 times a day. The stool is profuse, alternating with constipation. Laboratory analysis establishes an increased content of fatty inclusions and undigested fibers in the feces.
With a pronounced atrophic process, ulceration of the intestine is possible, then there will be symptoms of blood in the stool.
Strong intestinal bleeding is considered as a complication of celiac disease if the diet is not followed. It is caused by the penetration of an ulcer small intestine with vessel rupture.
A mandatory symptom is bloating and rumbling. Flatulence is also associated with impaired digestion.
Pain in the abdomen around the navel is cramping in nature in the form of intestinal colic, are associated with impaired intestinal innervation and spastic contractions.
Nausea and vomiting appear as a symptom of the body’s reaction to “foreign” cells of the intestinal mucosa.
Increased fluid loss with diarrhea causes dry skin and mucous membranes, peeling, and the appearance of premature wrinkles.
Patients note progressive weight loss and muscle weakness.

It has been established that the use of a diet without gliadin helps restore normal intestinal digestion in 85% of patients.

Symptoms of vitamin and hormone deficiency

Vitamins, hormones, enzymes that ensure all metabolic processes in the body are synthesized only with the participation of protein and mineral complexes coming from food. The cessation of this process leads to symptoms of deficiency.

Lack of B vitamins causes increased fatigue, drowsiness, muscle weakness.
The lack of vitamin D in the adult body in conditions of a formed skeleton contributes to the leaching of calcium salts from bone tissue, osteoporosis develops. The result is frequent fractures.
Low iron concentration in the blood leads to iron deficiency anemia(anemia), the synthesis of red blood cells and their ability to capture oxygen molecules are hampered. TO clinical symptoms is added oxygen starvation all organs.
Absence required quantity Vitamin E disrupts the synthesis of sex hormones, which is expressed in women by symptoms of amenorrhea, in men it leads to a decrease in potency. Sometimes celiac disease is discovered when a couple is being examined for infertility.
A disease not compensated by diet leads to the threat of miscarriage in a pregnant woman. A child born to a mother with celiac disease will have low weight, developmental defects are possible.

Autoimmune manifestations

The involvement of the autoimmune mechanism has been proven by the influence of the gene of the same name on the breakdown of gliadin and other autoimmune disorders.

Elderly patients with celiac disease experience joint pain, swelling, and stiffness during movement, which is associated with autoimmune polyarthritis.

Simultaneously with celiac disease, a patient may have diabetes first type, autoimmune thyroiditis(inflammation thyroid gland), hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, baldness.

Genetic mutations in celiac disease establish links with others hereditary diseases, for example, Down syndrome. In adult patients with Down syndrome, celiac disease is much more common than in healthy people.

Symptoms of complications

Complications in the absence of a diet can be very serious and lead to death.

Perforation of a small intestinal ulcer appears sharp pains around the navel. Intestinal contents entering the abdominal cavity leads to state of shock and peritonitis. The temperature is rising. The stomach becomes board-shaped. The patient needs urgent surgical intervention.

Symptoms of bleeding also accompany the destruction of the small intestine. Possible bleeding varying degrees: from symptoms of blood in the stool to heavy internal blood loss with a fall blood pressure, pale skin, sticky sweat.

Celiac disease in adults is a risk factor for small intestinal cancer. Clinical manifestations will depend on the type of tumor, the direction of its growth, and the rate of growth.

Laboratory manifestations

Celiac disease is characterized by nonspecific and specific laboratory symptoms which help in diagnosis.

Specific symptoms are a positive reaction for the presence of antibodies to gliadin. Reliability of the analysis in the formulation correct diagnosis approximately 100%.

The disease in an adult is controlled by following a diet excluding gliadin-containing products. Compensation with vitamin and mineral supplements is regularly required. Patients should undergo regular examination and dispensary treatment from a gastroenterologist.

Celiac disease, or gluten enteropathy, is a chronic genetically determined disease of the small intestine, characterized by absolute intolerance to the protein contained in cereal products– gluten free. It occurs with nonspecific symptoms, so in many cases it is simply not diagnosed. In fact, celiac disease is a fairly common pathology, the incidence of which is only growing over the years. You will learn about what kind of disease this is, why it occurs and how it manifests itself in our article.

Celiac enteropathy is a genetically and immune-mediated disease - certain combinations of histocompatibility antigens are found in almost 100% of patients. In families of people with celiac disease, the risk of developing this pathology in close relatives is 10%.

Speaking about the mechanisms of development of celiac disease, it is worth noting that 2 theories have received the greatest recognition:

immune;
theory about the deficiency of peptidases (enzymes that break down proteins) of the brush border of the small intestine (it is this structure that is directly involved in the digestion of gluten).

So, immune-mediated inflammation develops in the mucous membrane of the small intestine, which leads to a number of morphological changes, resulting in malabsorption syndrome (impaired absorption nutrients).

Classification

Depending on the course of the disease, the following forms are distinguished:

active form, or classic celiac disease - characterized by a clear clinical symptoms in the form of diarrhea and malabsorption syndrome;
latent – at the time of the study there is no clear clinical picture of the disease and characteristic changes the mucous membrane of the small intestine, however, screening methods support this diagnosis;
extraintestinal, or subclinical form, or atypical celiac disease - characteristic symptoms there is no disease, its extraintestinal manifestations come to the fore;
refractory celiac disease is a form of the disease characterized by resistance to all types of therapy; fortunately, it is rare.

Symptoms in adults and children

As a rule, this disease debuts in infancy, when complementary foods containing grains are introduced early into the child’s diet, in particular semolina porridge. In most cases, symptoms regress over time,
but this absolutely does not mean that the child has recovered - the disease enters a phase of clinical remission, and changes in the intestinal mucosa persist, as do some digestive disorders. In the future, the child develops certain complications of celiac disease, which are not specific and are often regarded by doctors as conditions unrelated to this disease, that is, celiac disease remains unrecognized.

Clinical manifestations of celiac disease in children are:

Signs of celiac disease in adults:

Half of the patients have atypical form celiac disease, not accompanied by weight loss and stool disorders. In elderly patients, intestinal manifestations are often absent altogether, and the disease manifests itself with extraintestinal symptoms.

With hidden - latent - celiac disease, the patient is characterized by mildly expressed nonspecific extraintestinal manifestations of the disease. Despite the fact that, it would seem, this form of the disease does not really affect a person’s quality of life, however, it still needs to be treated. Regardless of the severity of symptoms, patients with celiac enteropathy die much earlier than healthy individuals and are many times more likely to develop serious illnesses, in particular, ulceration and bleeding of the small intestine, malignant T-cell lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, cancer of the small intestine and esophagus, anemia, osteoporosis and autoimmune diseases, and cachexia (wasting). 1-3 patients out of 10 die from complications of untreated celiac disease, whereas with adequate therapy the mortality rate is only 0.4%.

How to make a diagnosis of celiac disease and the principles of treatment of this disease read the article of the same name.

EktbTV, program “Little things in life: online health” on the topic “Celiac disease or gluten-free life”:

Kherson regional clinical Hospital, video on the topic “Celiac disease”:

Before 16-year-old Vadim Osin from Grodno was diagnosed with celiac disease 5 years ago, his life was not much different from the lives of his peers: he grew up in a large loving family, went to school and was seriously interested in hockey. The only thing that worried his parents was the boy’s short stature and constant anemia even while taking iron supplements.

For quite a long time, doctors were inclined to believe that Vadim’s problems were related to the thyroid gland. The fact that the reason needed to be looked for elsewhere turned out to be actually by accident: the Osins went to a consultation with a gastroenterologist out of despair rather than with the belief that this particular specialist was needed by their son.

The diagnosis of celiac disease was stunning. Habitual way of life life immediately went to hell: I had to change the life, character and eating habits of the whole family. Vadim, despite perseverance and desire, was forced to part with his beloved hockey... And given the peculiarity of celiac disease, doctors strongly recommended that the other children in the Osin family be examined (Vadim has 9 more brothers and sisters). The diagnosis was confirmed in older sister Vadim Nina.

When 1 is too many

Vadim and Nina Osin were not lucky enough to be included in the 1% of people suffering from celiac disease. At first glance, this figure in itself is negligible. But on the scale of Belarus it has a slightly different dimension: the number of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease can be comparable to the population of cities such as Molodechno, Soligorsk, Novopolotsk or Lida. Considering the vagueness of the symptoms of the disease and, accordingly, certain difficulties in diagnosing it, the real figure may well be higher.

What is celiac disease and how not to miss it, Healthy people helped me figure it out Irina Savanovich.

Irina Savanovich

Celiac disease (or otherwise celiac disease) - immune-mediated systemic disease, which is caused by gluten from wheat and other related grains in individuals with a genetic predisposition. The main thing with this disease is chronic damage to the mucous membrane of the small intestine from products containing gluten. Gluten, or gluten, is a collective concept of protein, which is part of cereals such as wheat in the form of glutenin, rye - secalin, barley - hordein. The most toxic for patients with celiac disease is a special fraction called gliadin. Why is the disease systemic? But because disorders are noted not only gastrointestinal tract, but also other organs and systems, for example, endocrine, reproductive, musculoskeletal, nervous.

In healthy people, gluten enters the gastrointestinal tract, is digested, nutrients enter the bloodstream and are delivered to all organs and tissues. In people with celiac disease the immune system recognizes gluten as a “foreigner”, attacking its own cells in the small intestine. The immune system begins to desperately “protect itself” from the protein, producing toxic compounds that have a detrimental effect on the villi of the small intestine. This battle, unfortunately, does not end in favor of the patient with celiac disease: the intestinal villi are damaged and atrophied, digestion processes and immune regulation are disrupted. As a result, the body loses its ability to absorb nutrients from food. Every new sandwich or sweet treat only makes the situation worse. If the course is unfavorable, the process goes far beyond the intestines, affecting almost all organs and systems of the human body.

Signs and symptoms of celiac disease

The clinical manifestations of celiac disease are varied, so doctors today distinguish typical, atypical, erased and other forms of the disease. In infancy and early childhood, the first manifestations of the disease are usually observed 8-12 weeks after the introduction of complementary foods in the form of wheat or semolina porridge, or baby cookies. Symptoms celiac disease are impaired appetite, changes in stool in the form of diarrhea, a large volume of foul-smelling stool, constipation, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, increased abdominal circumference, loss of previously acquired psychomotor development skills, impaired growth, physical and sexual development, metabolic disorders. Provoke and aggravate the course of the disease intestinal infections. Similar manifestations of celiac disease can occur at any age; they are called typical, classic.

Irina Savanovich

Candidate medical sciences, Associate Professor of the 2nd Department of Childhood Diseases of the Belarusian State Medical University, chief freelance pediatric gastroenterologist Ministry of Health

It is believed that the first mention of something similar to celiac disease serious illness described in India before the birth of Christ. In Europe in the second century BC, the description of the disease belongs to the pen of the ancient scientist Aratheus. The word celiac comes from the Latin version of the Greek word koilia and is translated as belly. Peru Aratheus quotes: “If the stomach is unable to accept food, and it passes through undigested, and none of the food is absorbed by the body, we call such people sick with celiac disease.” However, only in the fifties of the last century did Dicke prove that excluding wheat, barley and oatmeal significantly improved their condition. Dike managed to make a discovery: it is cereals that contain toxic fractions, causing disease. Thus began the era of the gluten-free diet, the main achievement of which was the reduction in mortality among patients with celiac disease. The problem with diagnosing celiac disease is that typical, “classical” celiac disease is no more than 10-30% of the total number of diagnosed cases. In the stereotype of ideas about typical symptoms Celiac disease has a diagnostic problem. Today the trend is that for many diseases are coming at odds with classic symptoms. Celiac disease is no exception: the patient may not have bloating, abdominal pain, or problems with bowel movements, and tests reliably indicate the presence of the disease. Because it does not always manifest itself as intestinal problems. For example, the answer has not yet been found why such a congenital genetic syndrome as Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome (expressed in short stature) is associated with celiac disease. But it is precisely the discrepancy with that described in medical literature symptoms of past years, the stereotype of past knowledge about celiac disease can lead the doctor down the wrong path for quite a long time in search of the cause of the ailment.

Celiac disease has no "age": it is inherent in both children and adults. But if children early age with classic signs of the disease are usually examined, in adults the search for a reliable diagnosis can take years, and the result largely depends on the doctor’s alertness and the patient’s desire to get to the bottom of the truth. The most common and difficult to diagnose atypical form. It is characterized by a predominance in clinical picture diseases extraintestinal manifestations(for example, increased bleeding, anemia, fractures with minimal stress, endocrine disorders) without or with slight expression clinical manifestations gastrointestinal lesions. Overweight and obese patients are no exception for diagnosing celiac disease.

You should definitely see your doctor and express your concerns about celiac disease if you are concerned about:

persistent iron deficiency anemia while taking iron supplements;
weak, brittle bones (osteopenia and osteoporosis);

ulcers in the oral cavity observed over a long period of time, so-called aphthous stomatitis;
irregular menstrual cycles;
infertility and miscarriages;
causeless weight loss;

chronic or recurrent diarrhea;
chronic constipation resistant to therapy.

There is a category of people in whom celiac disease can develop without any symptoms until a certain time and is detected due to chance. A striking example such an “accident” - Nina Osina. The girl did not complain about her health, did not suffer from excessive thinness, and in all respects developed quite harmoniously. Only after her brother’s diagnosis was confirmed, Nina, alas, automatically fell into the risk group. But fortunately: the asymptomatic course of the disease does not eliminate complications, and the later the diagnosis is made and treatment is prescribed, the more severe the consequences can be.

At-risk groups

Irina Savanovich

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the 2nd Department of Childhood Diseases of the Belarusian State Medical University, chief freelance pediatric gastroenterologist of the Ministry of Health

Ideal option early diagnosis Any disease, including celiac disease, would benefit from full-scale screening. But objectively, no state in the world is able to provide a survey of the entire population. Therefore, medicine identifies so-called risk groups in which the disease is more likely to occur.

It has been reliably established that Celiac disease tends to run within families. According to various estimates, if one of the immediate relatives has established diagnosis celiac disease, the probability of detecting the disease in other family members ranges from 10 to 22%. Also, due to common susceptibility genes, the risk of celiac disease is high in people who already have a history of other autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes.

Thus, Risk groups for celiac disease, in addition to patients with the symptoms described above, include:

members of the same family of the first degree(if one of the parents, brothers or sisters is diagnosed with celiac disease, testing is recommended for the rest of the family members);
patients with others autoimmune diseases ( , autoimmune thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.);
patients with genetic diseases (Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome, Down syndrome, etc.);
patients with;
patients with iron deficiency anemia, which is difficult to treat.

Irina Savanovich

The presence of an autoimmune or genetic pathology does not mean that such a patient will certainly have celiac disease. In the same way, it is impossible to give a 100 percent guarantee that a patient with celiac disease will not develop another autoimmune process, such as diabetes mellitus, for example. But following a gluten-free diet, which is indicated for celiac disease, minimizes the risks of other pathologies and/or their complications. In particular, the effectiveness of a gluten-free diet in protective effect on blood vessels in patients with celiac disease and diabetes mellitus. After all, the main threat is not high sugars, which, conditionally, can be reduced with pills, and in secondary conditions that occur with diabetes, including vascular damage. Assuming that a patient with celiac disease is not examined and, accordingly, does not receive treatment, atrophy of the villi lining the mucous membrane of the small intestine is in full swing. This leads to impaired absorption of nutrients, which negatively affects all metabolic processes. And if he has another pathology, the destructive effect on the body increases many times over. Celiac disease today is a risk factor for the development malignant diseases digestive organs. With celiac disease, complications are possible: refractory celiac disease; ulcerative jeunitis (jejuno-ileitis); enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma; adenocarcinoma of the small intestine; collagenous sprue; celiac crisis; autoimmune diseases.

Specific testing for celiac disease

There is only one way to confirm or deny a diagnosis of celiac disease: undergo a specific examination. Because in addition to the disease itself, there are two more “related” pathologies: allergy And non-celiac form of gluten intolerance. Despite the fact that pathological reactions in the body are provoked by gluten, the difference between the processes is fundamental. It's important to remember that primary diagnosis Celiac disease must be carried out against the background of consumption of gluten-containing products. There is no point in testing people on a gluten-free diet to rule out celiac disease. An examination of a gluten-free diet is carried out to assess its effectiveness in patients with a previously identified disease. Otherwise, a gluten challenge is necessary. Therefore, before deciding on a gluten-free diet, it is better to get tested and consult with your doctor.

At allergies a gluten-free diet is prescribed for a certain period of time and there is an opportunity to return to
consumption of gluten-containing grains and products made from them.

At non-celiac form of grain intolerance all specific tests for celiac disease are normal or the level of antibodies to gliadin is slightly increased, there is no specific damage to the small intestinal mucosa, but when eating foods containing gluten, a person experiences discomfort: appears increased gas formation, abdominal pain, problems with stool... A carrier of a non-celiac form of grain intolerance often comes to the conclusion that life is literally wonderful without bread and rolls by empirical means, by trial and error.

Celiac disease means complete failure from gluten due to the inevitable consequences and complications when consuming it.

What to eat for celiac disease can only be found out through tests:

First of all, by blood test for the presence of specific antibodies of the IgA class and the IgG class to gliadin and tissue transglutaminase. Antibodies are immunoglobulins and are formed in response to gluten entering the intestines. Increased performance may indicate celiac disease and serve as a reason for the next stage of examination.
Small intestine biopsy– the second stage of screening, which allows you to establish the presence (or absence) of villous atrophy of the small intestinal mucosa, as the main criterion for celiac disease.
In some cases, the method is used HLA typing(i.e., testing for the presence of susceptibility genes): absence of HLA molecules DQ2 and DQ8 with high probability excludes celiac disease, the presence of HLA DQ2 or DQ8 molecules does not confirm the diagnosis of celiac disease, but indicates its possible presence. However, 20-30% of the population have this genotype, and only 1% of them develop the disease. This is not a method for diagnosing celiac disease. Its goal is to identify carriers of genes predisposing to the disease. HLA typing can be used to make a diagnosis if the results of blood tests and biopsy of the small intestinal mucosa are inconsistent with each other. For example, using HLA typing, it is possible to identify a rare and difficult to diagnose form of gluten enteropathy - seronegative celiac disease, if other causes of small intestinal villous atrophy are excluded at the time of examination.
The diagnosis is finally confirmed by the normalization of all indicators on the background of a gluten-free diet.

If celiac disease is confirmed, patients should be dispensary observation, and the doctor will determine the timing of gastroscopy and biopsy, blood tests.

Celiac disease treatment

Contrary to the beliefs of celiac disease, how independent disease, not burdened by the presence of others pathological processes in the body, is not as scary as people think about it.

Irina Savanovich

The difficulty is that people who do not have serious gastroenterological problems and celiac disease does not bother them in any way, because it is asymptomatic and detected randomly, are sometimes difficult to convince of the need to comply strict diet. Always. All life. This means never consuming gluten-containing foods in any quantity. Often both the patient and his family perceive this prospect without much enthusiasm. After all, recommendations for the treatment of celiac disease imply a total restructuring of everything: everyday life, routine, lifestyle, character and eating habits... But there is no other way. Excluding gluten from the diet - the only way Don't let celiac disease harm your health.

If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, your condition will improve within a few days. But the process full recovery the mucous membrane of the small intestine in children can take 6-12 months, sometimes it can last for years.

We will talk about what it is, how to properly create a menu for celiac disease and what non-food products you will have to avoid using in the next article.

Subscribe to our channel atTelegramand stay updated with the latest news! Only interesting videos on our channelYouTube , join us!

There are four forms of celiac disease - typical celiac disease, atypical celiac disease, latent (hidden) celiac disease and refractory celiac disease.

Symptoms of a typical form of celiac disease

Symptoms of typical celiac disease symptoms in adults allow the doctor to immediately assume that the patient suffers from celiac disease.

Typical celiac disease in adults manifests itself with symptoms associated with disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. It can be:

Stomach ache.
Dyspepsia.
Flatulence and bloating with the release of foul-smelling gases.
Diarrhea alternating with constipation.
Poor appetite or, conversely, increased appetite.
Weight loss or vice versa obesity.
Periodic nausea and vomiting.
Blood in stool.
Liquid or soft stool that sticks to the walls of the toilet and is difficult to flush (due to the content of undigested fats).
Intestinal bleeding (lymphoma in advanced celiac disease).

Along with intestinal manifestations, typical celiac disease in adults also manifests itself with extraintestinal symptoms :

Damage to the mucosa oral cavity(stomatitis, aphthous ulcers, glossitis, coated tongue, fungal infections).
Psychological disorders (anxiety, depression, irritability).
Weakened immunity.
Anemia.
Infertility, spontaneous (unexplained by other reasons) miscarriages.
Pain in muscles, bones and joints (osteoporosis, fractures, arthritis).
Chronic fatigue syndrome.
Dermatitis herpetiformis (Dühring's dermatosis and other forms of dermatitis).
Autoimmune diseases (usually 25-30% of diabetic patients have celiac disease).

However, most often the symptoms of celiac disease in adults indicate an atypical and latent form of the disease.

The most common manifestation of any form of celiac disease is osteoporosis. This disease is detected in almost 80% of adult patients (and 50% of children) suffering from celiac disease. Osteoporosis usually manifests itself as bone pain and fractures. By following a gluten-free diet, bone density is gradually restored.

No less common, and sometimes the only manifestation of celiac disease in adults is anemia.

Therefore, all adults (especially men, as well as women over 40) who have iron deficiency anemia should undergo examinations to exclude celiac disease.

Another common manifestation of celiac disease in adults is neurological and psychological disorders- stress, depression and anxiety states, not amenable conventional treatment. Symptoms disappear 2-3 weeks after switching to a gluten-free diet.

Arthritis, as well as pain in muscles, joints and bones of unknown origin are also common manifestations of celiac disease.

Unfortunately, adults rarely pay attention to extraintestinal symptoms of celiac disease, especially if you have been accustomed to such a quality of life since childhood.

A chronic disease of the epithelium of the small intestine, which is characterized by congenital protein intolerance, is called celiac disease. This protein is found in various cereal crops, such as barley, rye, as well as oats and wheat.

The disease is more often detected in women, but is also common in childhood and in men. In children, symptoms are usually pronounced, which is associated with insufficient development of the digestive tract and enzymatic system, and in adolescents and adults it is usually almost asymptomatic. Treatment of the disease consists of prescribing a special diet.

Celiac disease is caused by congenital genetic disorders, in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged by eating gluten. Protein in pure form leads to the gluing of the villi and their damage, which subsequently prevents them from fully functioning.

Celiac disease in adults can be caused by the following reasons:

Genetic predisposition;
Down syndrome;
Autoimmune thyroid diseases;
Type 1 diabetes mellitus, which requires immediate treatment;
An inflammatory process in the colon, leading to the accumulation of lymphocyte blood cells, the so-called lymphocytic colitis;
Irritable bowel syndrome;
Chronic hepatitis of active type.

Celiac disease in children can also be caused by the above reasons, but in a child it occurs with more severe symptoms. The disease in children is also caused by a deficiency of intestinal enzymatic cells, the main purpose of which is to break down protein peptide.

Inflammation of the villi of the small intestine can be caused by other factors, including:

Stress and nervous tension;
Surgery (for example, when removing appendicitis);
Regular consumption of foods rich in gluten;
Intestinal infections caused by dangerous bacteria and viruses.

Today the most common intestinal disease is celiac disease. From the outside digestive system There may be the following signs:

Impaired absorption of various microelements and vitamins in the intestines (diarrhea mixed with mucus and blood, flatulence, increased stool volume);
Intolerance to consuming products containing milk;
Decreased appetite;
Painful sensations in the navel area.

In other organs, celiac disease is manifested by the following symptoms:

Short stature;
Osteoporosis;
Painful sensations in the bones;
Destruction of tooth enamel;
Constant strong thirst;
Softening of bones as a result of impaired absorption of calcium in the intestine;
Pale skin.

Celiac disease in children under two years of age has pronounced symptoms, and their appearance is caused by eating foods rich in gluten. These include:

Nausea, weight loss and extreme thinness;
Bloating and flatulence;
Diarrhea with a strong unpleasant odor;
Development of rickets;
Excitement and crying.

In addition to the above symptoms, celiac disease in adults can also cause nonspecific symptoms, namely a feeling of shortness of breath, increased fatigue, migraine, and atopic dermatitis. In addition, it can lead to changes in behavior - insomnia, increased anxiety, sudden change of mood.

Diagnosis of celiac disease is carried out based on the patient’s visit to the doctor and identification of complaints. After visual inspection and collecting anamnesis, the gastroenterologist can perform a preliminary analysis, which requires further clarification.

A gastroenterologist also diagnoses celiac disease during an examination. To do this, the doctor palpates the abdominal area to identify painful sensations, measuring abdominal circumference, and also schedules a consultation with an allergist.

TO laboratory methods diagnostics include:

A blood test performed to determine hemoglobin, red blood cell, platelet, and white blood cell levels, which helps determine inflammatory process in organism.
Biochemical blood test to determine high level immunoglobulin. This analysis is most informative only during the active stage of the disease.
Stool test for celiac disease to determine hidden blood, That is sure sign intestinal dysfunction.
Examination of stool to detect fragments of undigested food.

Celiac disease in adults can also be detected by instrumental methods examinations:

Fibrogastroduodenoscopy is a procedure in which a specialist examines internal cavity stomach and intestines using a special endoscope apparatus. During the FGD process, the doctor also takes a biopsy duodenum to identify the structure of the surface epithelium;
Evaluation of biopsy results using special technology;
Study of bone tissue and determination of its density;
Ultrasound of organs in abdominal cavity to identify the location of damage to the walls of the small intestine.

Receipt positive results A biopsy confirms the diagnosis of inflammation and gluing of the villi of the small intestinal mucosa. However, if a blood test was used as a diagnostic method, a repeat examination is required to confirm the results.

Treatment of this disease does not require the use of drug therapy or surgical treatment. It involves mainly a diet that includes foods with low content gluten, namely the complete exclusion of grains from the diet - wheat, rye, oats, and barley.

A gluten-free diet includes:

Limiting consumption of processed meats canned food, chocolate, as well as fatty sauces and mayonnaise, coffee and cocoa;
Refusal of spicy, salty and fatty foods;
Excluding flour from the diet, as well as eating baked goods made from gluten-free flour;
Avoid beer and malt drinks as they contain gluten;
It is possible to consume flour from rice, soy and corn, as well as meat and fish dishes, potatoes and fruits.

This diet gives noticeable results after just three weeks, and after a year the mucous membrane is completely restored. Treatment of the disease also involves eliminating associated symptoms.

Such therapy includes taking drugs against diarrhea, and severe course Treatment of the disease may include the administration of nutrient solutions intravenously, after which it is necessary to gradually switch to regular food.

In addition to diet, iron deficiency anemia is treated, vitamins and microelements, calcium and vitamin D are taken. If treatment is not timely, the disease leads to various complications, including the development of ulcers, hypovitaminosis, the formation of malignant oncological tumors, as well as infertility and other consequences.

Treatment for this chronic disease can be carried out folk remedies, which can complement the diet. At the first signs of illness, the following will help improve the patient’s condition and relieve pain: medicinal herbs and collections - lure, bedstraw, lungwort, swampy cudweed, meadowsweet, long-leaved speedwell, and bifolia lyubka.

To prepare the infusion, you need to mix all these herbs and pour boiling water over them, heat them in water for 30 minutes, and take 50 ml up to five times a day. However, such treatment must be coordinated with a gastroenterologist, since taking some herbs can lead to other adverse effects.

Folk remedies can complement a gluten-free diet and eliminate discomfort in a stomach. The patient can check the effectiveness of treatment with folk remedies by taking a blood test.

Disease prevention measures include:

A gluten-free diet that helps prevent epithelial damage in small intestine. This diet requires you to exclude from your diet those foods that contain grains.
A thorough examination and blood test in patients at risk (diabetes mellitus, Down syndrome, autoimmune diseases thyroid gland, as well as lymphocytic colitis).