Symptoms of Celiac Disease
How can you recognize the symptoms of celiac disease? Find out how to spot the prominent as well as less-noticeable signs in children and adults.
Celiac disease, one of the most common genetic diseases worldwide, was once thought to be a rare disease seen mainly in children. We now know that celiac disease can be seen at any age, and can have many different symptoms affecting different parts of your body.
Why do symptoms vary from person to person? This is a question that researchers are studying. Some studies suggest that the length of time you were breastfed is a factor. The age at which you are exposed to gluten and the amount of gluten you are exposed to may play a role. We know that people can have different degrees of celiac disease. Damage to the small intestines differs from person to person. Many adults have celiac disease years before they are diagnosed. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, 97 percent of people who have celiac disease have never been diagnosed.
Celiac Disease: Common Symptoms in Children
"The classic presentation of celiac disease is a 12- to 24-month-old child who has a big belly, is failing to thrive, and is extremely irritable," says Benjamin Gold, MD, a professor of pediatrics and microbiology and director of pediatric gastroenterology at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Discover How Celiac Disease is Diagnosed
Other symptoms can include:
- Diarrhea and/or constipation
- Vomiting and bloating
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Delayed growth and muscle loss
"We don't know why the more classic symptoms present at the youngest age groups. As blood tests have become available and we have been able to identify celiac disease in older children, adolescents, and adults, we have learned that these symptoms are not the most common way that celiac disease presents," notes Dr. Gold.
Celiac Disease: Symptoms in Adults
Adults are less likely to have the classic digestive symptoms seen in children, making the diagnosis of celiac disease more difficult. The failure to absorb important nutrients over time can cause many different symptoms in adults, including:
- Anemia from loss of iron
Osteoporosis from loss of calcium
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Bone and joint pain
- Anxiety and depression
- Tingling or numbness of your hands or feet
- Skin rash
- Canker sores in your mouth
Celiac Disease: Relieving Symptoms
"Although celiac disease is a lifelong condition, we see a remarkable response once we start children on a gluten-free diet," says Gold. "The extreme irritability goes away and children begin to thrive again." If you have celiac disease, the good news is that a vigilant, gluten-free diet will stop celiac symptoms in most children and adults. Improvement begins within a few days. Damage to the small intestine can start to heal within three to six months in children but may take longer in adults.
Reverse Celiac Disease Symptoms by Going Gluten-Free
Because the symptoms are so different, celiac disease can seem like a different disease in children than in adults. If you have been diagnosed with celiac disease, a gluten-free diet is the treatment. If you have symptoms that may be celiac disease, see your doctor. The sooner you start treatment, the better chance you have of avoiding future complications.