Coeliac disease 

Coeliac disease, also known as celiac disease, is a common digestive condition where a person is intolerant (has an adverse reaction) to the protein gluten. If someone with coeliac disease is exposed to gluten, they may experience a wide range of symptoms and adverse effects, including:

• diarrhoea
• bloating
• abdominal pain
• weight loss
• failure to grow at the expected rate
• malnutrition

Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disease, which means that the body’s immune system attacks itself. When people with this condition eat gluten, this results in damage to the lining of the small intestine, which stops the body properly absorbing nutrients. The symptoms of coeliac disease can range from very mild to severe.

Gluten

Gluten is a protein that is found in three types of cereal:

• wheat
• barley
• rye

Gluten is found in any food that contains the above cereals including:

• pasta
• cakes
• breakfast cereals
• most type of bread

How common is coeliac disease?

During the 1980s, before advances in testing for coeliac disease were made, the condition was mistakenly thought to be rare.

However, coeliac disease is now known to be a common condition that affects approximately 1 in every 100 people in the UK. Women are two to three times more likely to develop coeliac disease than men. Cases of coeliac disease have been diagnosed in people of all ages.

In some cases, coeliac disease does not cause any noticeable symptoms, or it causes very mild symptoms. As a result, it is thought that at least 50% or possibly as many as 90% of cases are either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as other digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The cause or causes of coeliac disease are unknown, but it is thought to be associated with a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Outlook

If successfully diagnosed, the outlook for coeliac disease is generally good. There is no cure for coeliac disease, but switching to a gluten-free diet should help control the condition’s symptoms. See Coeliac disease - treatment for more information and advice about gluten-free diets.

The outlook for untreated coeliac disease can range from moderate to poor. Without treatment, coeliac disease can cause a wide range of potential long-term complications such as:

• osteoporosis (weakening of the bones)
• anaemia
• growth defects
• infertility
• some types of cancer

See Coeliac disease - complications for more information.