Survival Health


COELIAC DISEASE: A quick and easy guide


WHAT IS COELIAC DISEASE? Coeliac disease is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting one in 100 people in the UK and it is often misdiagnosed. It is an autoimmune disease, not an allergy nor food intolerance. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. In coeliac disease the cause for the attack is gluten – the protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Some people are also sensitive to oats.


Gluten is found in bread, pasta, pizza, cakes and


beer. However, it is also often used in a wide range of products including mayonnaise, soy sauce, sauces, sausages and many processed foods.


SYMPTOMS


Undiagnosed coeliac disease damages the lining of the small intestine. It can also affect other parts of the body. The symptoms vary in severity, but typical symptoms include diarrhoea, bloating, indigestion and abdominal pain.


In babies, symptoms may develop after weaning onto cereals which contain gluten.


Other symptoms in young children include: ✖ muscle wasting in the arms and legs ✖ bloated tummy ✖ irritability


✖ failure to gain weight or lose weight after previously growing well


Symptoms in older children vary as they do in adults. They may include:


✖ any combination of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid defi ciency


✖ tiredness and/or headaches ✖ weight loss (but not in all cases) ✖ mouth ulcers ✖ hair loss (alopecia) ✖ skin condition rash (dermatitis herpetiformis (DH))


22 WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDES.CO.UK


✖ tooth enamel problems including staining and grooving


✖ osteoporosis ✖ depression ✖ infertility problems


DIAGNOSIS


If you suspect that you or your child has coeliac disease, there are two steps to diagnosis:


1. Symptoms should be discussed with your GP and if coeliac disease is suspected, they will carry out a blood test or refer you to a specialist for further investigations. Specifi c blood tests detect antibodies resulting from eating gluten.


2. Depending on the outcome of the test, you will be referred to a gastroenterologist who will carry out a small intestine endoscopy with biopsy to show the typical damage to the gut lining.


It is essential that individuals continue to eat gluten throughout the diagnosis process, otherwise it is not possible to make an accurate diagnosis.


HELP IS AT HAND


Although there is no cure or medication, and the only treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet, there is no need to worry if you or your child are diagnosed with coeliac disease – Coeliac UK is there to help you. Coeliac UK is the national charity for people with coeliac disease and they are there to sup- port you with your health, diet and lifestyle. If you or your child are medically diagnosed with coeliac disease, you can join Coeliac UK as a Member. A parent/carer of a child under 16 with coeliac disease can join as a Member on the child’s behalf. (see http://www.coeliac.org.uk/members/join). Coeliac UK are currently getting around 1200 new members every month. Members receive the invaluable Food and Drink Directory, a book listing around 9,000 products that are safe to eat, and which is updated annually. Crossed Grain Magazine, issued


three times a year, covers what’s going on with coeliac disease and is packed full of inspirational features and articles. There are Local Voluntary Support Groups throughout the country where you can meet up with other members in your area and benefi t from local activities and support. The charity also publishes information sheets and booklets to help you manage your condition and diet. As a member, you can call their expert team of dieticians and Food and Drink advisers on 0845 305 2060. In addition to all this, there is also a very active Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CoeliacUK where anyone can ask questions. Coeliac UK also works very closely with the catering sector and there has been rapid and extensive growth in the number of high quality gluten-free foods available in shops, supermarkets and in restaurants. Once diagnosed you can also get certain staple foods such as fl our and bread on prescription. Check out the Coeliac UK website for more information on other symptoms and how to get diagnosed: www.coeliac.org.uk


COELIAC UK Coeliac UK is the national


charity for people with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. You can contact Coeliac UK via their website at


www.coeliac.org.uk


or by phoning their Helpline on 0845 305 2060


(Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10-4 and Wed 11-4).


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