Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which consumption of gluten (proteins in wheat, barley, and rye, and sometimes in oats) causes the body’s immune system to attack and damage the small intestine.
When people with celiac disease eat food that contains gluten, the lining of the small intestine becomes inflamed. Ordinarily, this lining, called the mucosa, is covered with hairlike projections called villi -- but the inflammation that develops in response to gluten causes the villi to shrink and flatten (or to "atrophy," in medical terms).
When people with celiac disease eat food that contains gluten, the lining of the small intestine becomes inflamed. Ordinarily, this lining, called the mucosa, is covered with hairlike projections called villi -- but the inflammation that develops in response to gluten causes the villi to shrink and flatten (or to "atrophy," in medical terms).
Celiac Disease Symptoms
The symptoms of celiac disease may begin in infancy, childhood, adulthood, or even very late in life. Some people with celiac disease become violently ill soon after eating just small amounts of gluten. Others have very subtle symptoms, or none at all, and their disease is discovered by accident. Even in symptomatic patients, the diagnosis of celiac disease can take many years, unless the doctor or patient is alert to the possibility that gluten ingestion is to blame.
The symptoms of celiac disease may begin in infancy, childhood, adulthood, or even very late in life. Some people with celiac disease become violently ill soon after eating just small amounts of gluten. Others have very subtle symptoms, or none at all, and their disease is discovered by accident. Even in symptomatic patients, the diagnosis of celiac disease can take many years, unless the doctor or patient is alert to the possibility that gluten ingestion is to blame.
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