Common symptoms of celiac disease — and how to get diagnosed

Gluten-free diets are rising in popularity due in part to the perception that eliminating gluten is healthy. But for many, a gluten-free diet is not a choice. For people suffering from celiac disease, removing gluten from their diet is necessary to manage the condition.

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that affects the small intestine and usually requires a visit to a gastroenterologist for testing and diagnosis. If you suffer from celiac disease, your body is unable to digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, an estimated 1% of the American population has the disease, yet 83% of those individuals are either undiagnosed or have been misdiagnosed with a different disorder.

Learning the symptoms of celiac disease can help prepare you to speak with a gastroenterologist, lead you to the correct diagnosis, and better equip you to manage the condition.

Symptoms of celiac disease

The symptoms of celiac disease vary and have the potential to be confused with other health issues. Plus, symptoms can be different in adults and children.

“It’s easy to mistake the symptoms of celiac disease for another condition, possibly even a non-digestive disorder,” said Dr. Robert Walker, a gastroenterologist at Crystal Run Healthcare. “That’s why it’s important to make note of any symptoms you’re experiencing and discuss them with your doctor. Your primary care provider will be able to determine if an appointment with a gastroenterologist and further testing is needed.”

Adults can have a number of celiac disease symptoms that are both related and unrelated to digestion; however, adults are more likely to experience non-digestion-related symptoms.

Digestion-related symptoms in adults include:

— Abdominal pain.

— Diarrhea.

— Nausea and vomiting.

— Fatigue.

— Weight loss.

— Bloating and gas.

— Constipation.

Non-digestion-related symptoms in adults include:

— Anemia.

— Mouth ulcers.

— Headaches.

— Joint pain.

— Hyposplenism, or reduced function of the spleen.

— Itchy, blistering skin rash.

— Numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, balance problems, and cognitive impairment.

— Osteoporosis or osteomalacia, a disease that softens the bones.

Children with celiac disease, on the other hand, are more likely to experience digestion-related symptoms.

Digestion-related symptoms in children include:

— Nausea and vomiting.

— Swollen belly.

— Chronic diarrhea.

— Gas.

— Constipation.

— Pale, foul-smelling bowel movements.

Non-digestion-related symptoms in children include:

— Weight loss.

— Irritability.

— Anemia.

— In infants, failure to thrive.

— Shorter stature.

— Delayed puberty.

— Neurological problems, which can include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, headaches, learning disabilities, seizures and lack of muscle coordination.

If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms, discuss them with your primary care provider, or make an appointment to meet with a gastroenterologist.

Celiac disease management at Crystal Run Healthcare

The first step to managing celiac disease is to get diagnosed. Crystal Run Healthcare’s gastroenterologists test for digestive disorders such as celiac disease to help manage and treat your condition. No one should have to suffer from digestive disorders. Speak with your physician to find the relief you deserve.

Crystal Run’s exceptional team of fellowship-trained gastroenterologists diagnose and treat everything from digestive disorders to colon cancer, and perform colonoscopies, upper endoscopies and other same-day gastrointestinal procedures in the practice’s on-site endoscopy suite. Working together with highly specialized Montefiore-based physicians in Crystal Run’s West Nyack office, doctors can give patients access to clinical trials and advanced, research-based treatments if needed.

To schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist or learn more about Crystal Run Healthcare, visit crystalrunhealthcare.com and follow the practice on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Members of the editorial and news staff of Paste BN Network were not involved in the creation of this content.