Symptoms of celiac disease – when should you see a doctor?

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Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that has a genetic basis. Its main feature is permanent gluten intolerance. Its symptoms vary greatly. Celiac disease can manifest itself differently in each patient, and the symptoms depend on the type of celiac disease. What to look for and when to see a specialist?

Celiac disease is a disease that is diagnosed at different ages. It is a celiac disease. Celiac disease is a persistent gluten-dependent enteropathy, a gene-related autoimmune disease. A characteristic feature is the permanent intolerance to gluten, i.e. the spare protein contained in cereals. The symptoms of celiac disease can vary from patient to patient. However, keep in mind that this is not an allergy.

Symptoms of celiac disease – types of disease

The symptoms of celiac disease can vary greatly. Depending on the symptoms and course, the following are distinguished:

1. full-blown celiac disease, the so-called overt, classic – it is diagnosed in pregnant women, children and the elderly. The symptoms of overt celiac disease are quite characteristic and easy to diagnose. Its symptoms are:
2. abdominal pain, flatulence,
3. fatty / watery diarrhea
4. weight loss,
5. developmental disorders in children,
6. short stature,
7. mood changes, depression
8. anemia and malabsorption;
9. oligosymptomatic celiac disease, the so-called mild, asymptomatic – the symptoms of celiac disease are visible only on the walls of the mucosa of the small intestine. Sometimes symptoms characteristic of overt celiac disease can be observed. It is the most commonly diagnosed form of celiac disease. Its symptoms are:
10. anemia and iron deficiency,
11. elevated cholesterol,
12. mouth ulcers and ulcers,
13. underdevelopment of tooth enamel,
14. tiredness,
15. neurological disorders, e.g. ataxia, epilepsy,
16. frequent headaches,
17. depression,
18. bone and joint pain,
19. osteoporosis,
20. cutaneous form of celiac disease,
21. miscarriage, fertility problems,
22. other autoimmune diseases;
23. hidden celiac disease latent, latent – celiac disease is diagnosed in people with no changes in the intestinal mucosa. The symptom of latent celiac disease is antibodies present in the patient’s blood. In patients with this type of celiac disease, the villi of the intestine disappear and the full development of the disease usually occurs in the future.
24. abdominal pain, flatulence,
25. fatty / watery diarrhea
26. weight loss,
27. developmental disorders in children,
28. short stature,
29. mood changes, depression
30. anemia and malabsorption;
31. anemia and iron deficiency,
32. elevated cholesterol,
33. mouth ulcers and ulcers,
34. underdevelopment of tooth enamel,
35. tiredness,
36. neurological disorders, e.g. ataxia, epilepsy,
37. frequent headaches,
38. depression,
39. bone and joint pain,
40. osteoporosis,
41. cutaneous form of celiac disease,
42. miscarriage, fertility problems,
43. other autoimmune diseases;

The symptoms of celiac disease get worse over time. The process is different. Sometimes it is just weakness, bone pain, stomatitis, and even severe and prolonged diarrhea and heavy weight loss. Often, celiac disease is revealed during pregnancy, infection, severe stress or surgery.

Symptoms of celiac disease – diagnosis

Diagnosis of celiac disease usually consists of:

1. blood test for antibodies – the test should be performed when you notice disturbing symptoms related to celiac disease in yourself or in your child, you should refer to a gastroenterologist who will order further diagnostic tests and make a correct diagnosis. Remember not to introduce a gluten-free diet yourself. The gastrologist will order blood tests to determine two of the three antibodies:
2. against tissue transglutaminase (tTG),
3. against deaminated gliadin peptide (DGP),
4. against smooth muscle endomysium (EmA).
5. against tissue transglutaminase (tTG),
6. against deaminated gliadin peptide (DGP),
7. against smooth muscle endomysium (EmA).

In order to diagnose celiac disease, you can perform a mail-order test, which is available in the Medonet Market offer. It does not require a visit to the sampling point, it is enough to send a sample collected with the received test kit to the laboratory. We also recommend the test for gluten intolerance and celiac disease – home cassette test, the result of which will be read after 15 minutes.

It is not necessary to test all antibodies. The listed antibodies are specific for celiac disease, therefore they clearly confirm the disease. It is worth noting that their absence does not exclude the disease, because as many as 6-22% of celiac disease cases it does not produce antibodies;

1. small intestine biopsy – a key way to diagnose celiac disease in patients. The biopsy is performed endoscopically during gastroscopy. This test is not often used in children. The test is abandoned when the child meets all of the following conditions:
2. has symptoms of celiac disease,
3. blood tests show a high level, i.e. 10 times above the normal level, against tissue IgA transglutaminase,
4. EMA antibodies were found in another sample,
5. the child has the HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 haplotype;
6. genetic testing in celiac disease – lack of HLA DQ2 DQ8 usually excludes celiac disease and the development of the disease in the future. A positive result from genetic testing does not mean you have celiac disease. It only means a genetic predisposition to develop celiac disease.
7. has symptoms of celiac disease,
8. blood tests show a high level, i.e. 10 times above the normal level, against tissue IgA transglutaminase,
9. EMA antibodies were found in another sample,
10. the child has the HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 haplotype;

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