Celiac Disease
Overview of Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease Meaning in Urdu
یہ بیماری ہاضمہ اور مدافعتی نظام کے متعلق ہے جس کی وجہ سے چھوٹی آنت کو نقصان پہنچتا ہے۔ اس بیماری کے شکار افراد کو اسہال، پیٹ پھول جانا، گیس، اور خون کی کمی جیسی علامات کا سامنا کرنا پڑتا ہے۔ اس بیماری کی علامات گلوٹین نامی پروٹین کی وجہ سے شدت اختیار کر سکتی ہیں۔ ان علامات سے چھٹکارا پانا زیادہ مشکل نہیں ہوتا کیوں کہ اس کے لاحق ہونے کی صورت میں ایسی غذاؤں کا استعمال ترک کرنے کا مشورہ دیا جاتا ہے جن میں گلوٹین بھرپور مقدار میں پایا جاتا ہے۔
Celiac disease (مرضِ شکم) is also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitivity enteropathy. It is a medical condition in which the person suffers from an immune reaction after consuming a gluten-rich diet. Gluten is a protein that is widely found in barley and rye.
If you are suffering from celiac disease, then consuming gluten can cause your immune system to respond. With time, the reaction worsens and causes serious damage to the small intestine. Due to this damage to the intestine, a person might face some other health complications such as bloating, diarrhea, and weight loss.
Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Sign and Symptoms of Celiac Disease in Adults
Common signs and symptoms of celiac disease in adults are stomach problems such as gas and diarrhea. Following are some additional celiac disease symptoms:
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Abdominal Pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
If you have celiac disease, your small intestine is unable to digest nutrients from the food that you have consumed. This can lead to more severe health complications. Some other signs and symptoms of celiac disease are as follows:
- Skin disorders
- Anemia
- Mouth ulcers and canker sores
- Liver disorders
- Migraines
- Headaches
- Irregular menstruation
- Osteoporosis
- Hyposplenism
- Numbness or tingling sensation in the feet and hands
- Cognitive impairment
Symptoms of Celiac Disease in Children
Children might suffer from the following symptoms. Such as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swollen belly
- Gas
- Constipation
- Chronic diarrhea
- Delayed puberty
- Weight loss
- Damage to tooth enamel
Types of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease can be categorized into three types. Each type has its symptoms.
Classical Celiac
Those who suffer from classical celiac are unable to absorb the nutrients present in the food. Some common symptoms of this type are as follows:
- Weight loss
- Stunted growth in children
- Steatorrhea, pale or foul-smelling stools
- Diarrhea
Nonclassical
People who have nonclassical do not show any sign of problems absorbing nutrients. But they are often suffering from autoimmune diseases. Some signs and symptoms of nonclassical are given below:
- Anemia
- Migraines
- Difficulty in losing weight
- Infertility
- Tingling and numbness in hands or feet
- Bloating and pain
Silent Celiac Disease
Patients who are suffering from silent celiac disease do not show any symptoms. But they still suffer from damage to the small intestine.
Causes of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease can be due to genetic problems. Some other factors that can cause celiac disease are as follows:
- Infant-feeding practices
- Gastrointestinal infections
In some cases, celiac disease can also become active after childbirth, during pregnancy, because of emotional stress, or after surgery.
Risk Factors of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is more common in people who suffer from the following risk factors:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Autoimmune thyroid disease
- Microscopic colitis
- Addison’s disease
- A previous history of celiac disease in the family
Complications of Celiac Disease
If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to the following complications. Such as:
- Malnutrition
- Infertility and miscarriage
- Lactose intolerance
- Cancer
- Nervous system problems
Celiac disease is more common in people who suffer from the following risk factors:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Autoimmune thyroid disease
- Microscopic colitis
- Addison’s disease
- A previous history of celiac disease in the family
Complications of Celiac Disease
If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to the following complications. Such as:
- Malnutrition
- Infertility and miscarriage
- Lactose intolerance
- Cancer
- Nervous system problems
Prevention
Celiac disease is a medical condition that is not preventable. But early detection and on-time management can prevent the onset of severe health complications.
Diagnosis
Before trying out a gluten-free diet, it is important to get tested for celiac disease. Because the absence of gluten might make the blood test level appear normal. But if the test indicates celiac disease, then the doctor might recommend the following tests:
Endoscopy
In the endoscopy test, a long tube is inserted into the mouth. There is a camera attached to one end of the tube. It is then passed down to the throat. The camera gives a real-time visual of the condition of the small intestine. The doctors might then take a small tissue sample to analyze the damage further.
Capsule Endoscopy
In this test, a small wireless camera is used to take pictures of the damaged small intestine. The camera is inserted with the help of a small vitamin pill. As the camera continues to travel, the doctors get real-time images of the situation of the small intestine.
Treatment of Celiac Disease | When to Consult a Doctor
The best and most often recommended treatment for celiac disease is to consume a strict and gluten-free diet in the long run. Some of the foods that contain gluten are as follows:
- Bulgur
- Barley
- Graham flour
- Rye
- Malt
- Semolina
- Spelt
- Triticale
- Farina
Consultation with a dietician is of extreme importance. Because they will design a proper diet plan for you that contains not even a trace of gluten. Those who have celiac disease can get affected by even small amounts of gluten in their foods. In addition to this, gluten can also be hidden in foods, medication, or some given below products.
- Some over-the-counter medications
- Modified starch, preservatives, and food stabilizes
- Vitamin and mineral supplements
- Communion wafers
- Playdough
Vitamins and Mineral Supplements
Anemia is a complication of celiac disease. Thus the doctor might recommend you to take the following vitamins.
- Folate
- Copper
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K
- Zinc
Follow-Up
The dietician might also recommend you schedule a visit with them at regular intervals. The dietician can also monitor your body’s metabolism with some blood tests. In most cases, a diet change can cause the intestine to get healed. Children might take three to six months to complete recovery. In the case of adults, the complete healing might take months to several years.
If the symptoms of the disease are recurring then you might be recommended biopsies or endoscopy.
Medications
In case the small intestine is severely damaged then the doctor might recommend some steroids so that the inflammation can be controlled. Some common drugs that the doctors recommend are as follows:
- Azathioprine
- Budesonide
Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Pakistan
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Lahore
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Kasur
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Jhang
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Karachi
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Islamabad
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Multan
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Rawalpindi
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Peshawar
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Faisalabad
- Doctors to treat Celiac Disease in Bahawalpur