Coeliac disease

Coeliac disease is different from having a gluten allergy or intolerance. 

Eating foods that contain gluten can trigger a range of gut-related symptoms that range from mild to severe, such as:

• diarrhoea (this might smell very bad)

• stomach aches and cramps

• bloating and farting

• indigestion

• nausea and vomiting

• constipation

The condition can also cause more general symptoms, including:

• tiredness – because you’re not getting enough nutrients from food (malnutrition)

• weight changes, including unintentional weight loss

• an itchy rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)

• problems getting pregnant (infertility)

• nerve damage

• disorders that affect coordination, balance and speech (ataxia)

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition. This means the immune system (the body's defence against infection) attacks healthy tissue by mistake.

In coeliac disease, the immune system reacts abnormally to someone eating gluten by treating it as a threat. This damages the lining of the small intestine, causing inflammation.

The exact cause of coeliac disease isn't fully understood, but genetics and environmental factors are thought to play a part.

What are the risk factors for coeliac disease?

While anyone can develop coeliac disease, it’s more common if you:

• are female 

• are between 40 and 60 years old, but it can develop at any age

• have a family history of coeliac disease

• are very stressed

• have an infection

• have another medical condition, such as type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, Down’s syndrome, and Turner syndrome

You should be tested for coeliac disease if you have:

• ongoing and unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea, stomach aches, and bloating

• fatigue and/or unintentional weight loss

• severe or constant mouth ulcers

• unexplained iron deficiency anaemia, or vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia

• medical conditions, including type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• a parent, sibling or child with coeliac disease

Coeliac disease is diagnosed through a blood test to check for specific types of antibodies. You may also need a biopsy of the small intestine to confirm the diagnosis.

During the testing period, you'll need to eat gluten-rich foods to make sure the tests are accurate.

As coeliac disease is a chronic autoimmune condition, there’s no way to avoid coeliac disease.

If you have coeliac disease, you mustn’t eat any foods containing gluten. If you have untreated or undiagnosed coeliac disease, and you're still eating gluten, it can lead to multiple complications, including:

• malabsorption – when your body doesn't absorb nutrients properly

• malnutrition – if nutrients aren’t properly absorbed, it can lead to a lack of nutrients in your body overall, causing symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and confusion

• lactose intolerance – where your body doesn’t make the enzyme needed to digest lactose, which is found in dairy products. This can cause similar gut-related symptoms to coeliac disease, but it doesn’t damage your body

• cancer – such as small bowel cancer, small bowel lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma, but this is rare

First-line treatment for coeliac disease is to avoid eating all foods that contain gluten. This will stop your immune system from attacking and damaging your gut, put a stop to symptoms, and ensure you get all the nutrients you need, while your digestive system repairs itself.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with coeliac disease and you start on a gluten-free diet, it shouldn’t take long for your symptoms to improve, but it may take up to a few years for the gut to heal completely.

You may also need to take vitamin and mineral supplements, such as those for iron deficiency anaemia, if you have it.

At Welbeck, our gastroenterologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.