Coeliac disease This hereditary life-long condition stops food being absorbed properly, so requires a special diet to prevent malnutrition.

In this article

Who's affected? What are the symptoms?

What's the recommended diet for CD? Are there any health complications with CD?

Coeliac disease (CD) is a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye (some people also react to gluten in oats). In people with CD, gluten triggers an autoimmune response that leads to inflammation of the small intestine. Eventually the inflammation damages the lining of the intestine, making it less able to absorb nutrients.

Traditionally it was usually thought of as a childhood disorder, but CD can develop at any age. It's most likely to be diagnosed between the ages of 30 to 50, and older people are also being diagnosed. This is probably because more people are aware of the condition and GPs now realise there are many different symptoms that may indicate CD.

It was previously thought that one in 1,000 people had CD, but this may now be as high as one in 100. The risk of developing CD increases if there's a family history of the disease.

The symptoms of CD depend on age. Infants may develop them when first introduced to foods containing gluten during weaning. These symptoms include:

• Upset stomach, with pale and very bad smelling stools
• Feeling lethargic and miserable
• Failure to grow

Older children with CD may show poor growth or sometimes weight loss. They may also exhibit signs of poor absorption such as anaemia or other vitamin deficiencies.

In adults the symptoms can be less striking, which is why it's often not recognised as CD. These symptoms can include:

• Tiredness
• Irritability
• Depression
• Anaemia
• Stomach upsets and pain
• Weight loss
• Mouth ulcers
• Bone or joint disorders

CD is usually diagnosed initially by a blood test followed by a biopsy of the small intestine. A small tube is passed down into the digestive system and a tiny bit of the lining is cut out and examined under a microscope.

The treatment of CD involves the removal of all dietary sources of gluten from the diet. Once this happens symptoms can improve very quickly, and most people feel much better in just a few weeks. But it can take the gut wall up to a year to fully recover, and maintaining a gluten-free diet is important to aid this recovery.