Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition. When people with coeliac disease eat gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, their immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine. This stops the body absorbing nutrients properly. Around 1 in 100 people in the UK have it, but most have not been diagnosed.
Symptoms
- diarrhoea, or constipation
- tummy pain, bloating and wind
- feeling very tired, often because of anaemia
- losing weight without trying
- an itchy, blistering rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
- mouth ulcers
- in children, not growing as expected
Some people have mild symptoms or none at all.
Who should be tested?
You should be offered a test if you have symptoms, or conditions linked to coeliac disease such as type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, IBS, or a close relative with coeliac disease.
Getting diagnosed
A blood test looks for antibodies. It only works if you are eating gluten. Keep eating gluten, in more than one meal every day for at least 6 weeks, until testing is finished. If the blood test is positive, you may be referred for an endoscopy and biopsy to confirm it.
Read about coeliac disease treatment.
Common questions
Is coeliac disease an allergy or an intolerance?
Neither. It is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks the lining of the gut when you eat gluten.
Can I have a little gluten now and then?
No. Even small amounts of gluten can damage the gut in people with coeliac disease, even if you do not get symptoms.
Sources we used
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