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What Is Coeliac Disease?

How To Recognise Coeliac Disease

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Coeliac disease (pronounced see-lee-ak) is a permanent intestinal reaction to dietary gluten. With coeliac disease, the cells lining the small bowel (intestine) become damaged and inflamed. This causes flattening of the tiny, finger like projections, called villi, which line the inside of the bowel.

The function of the villi is to break down and absorb nutrients in food. When these villi become flat, the surface area of the bowel is greatly decreased, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. This may also lead to deficiencies in vitamins (such as vitamin D, vitamin B12 or folate) and minerals (e.g. iron and calcium).

International research indicates there could be up to 100,000 people in our NZ team of 5 million with coeliac disease and of those 30,000 are likely to be children under the age of 18. However a large proportion of those are unaware they have the condition.    

SYMPTOMS OF COELIAC DISEASE

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Common Symptoms in Adults

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The symptoms of coeliac disease vary considerably. Listed below are some of the commonly reported symptoms which may occur alone or in combination:
  • Fatigue, weakness and lethargy
This may be due to anaemia - where iron or folic acid deficiency are the presenting feature. The anaemia may either not respond to treatment or may recur after treatment until the correct diagnosis is made and a gluten free diet is commenced.
  • Weight loss
  • Osteoporosis (thin bones)
  • Diarrhoea or Chronic constipation
This may begin at any age and is often present for years prior to diagnosis. Some people are more likely to experience constipation rather than diarrhoea.
  • Flatulence and abdominal distension
  • Cramping and bloating
  • Nausea and vomiting

Less Common Symptoms in Adults

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Some other atypical symptoms  or manifestations of coeliac disease include:
  • Easy bruising of the skin
  • Ulcerations and/or swelling of mouth and tongue
  • Miscarriages and infertility
  • Muscle spasms due to low blood calcium levels
  • B12, A, D, E and K vitamin deficiency
  • Skin rashes such as Dermatitis Herpetiformis
  • Neurological issues
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Bone and joint pains
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Become a Member

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  • Get advice, support, recipes and more throughout your coeliac journey
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  • Gain access to our member only resources, support groups, kids’ clubs, special offers, and the Coeliac Link magazine
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Common Symptoms in Children

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Symptoms do not occur until gluten is introduced into an infant's diet – however symptoms most commonly present in the older age group in order of frequency:
  • Persistent abdominal pain
  • Persistent diarrhoea
  • Poor weight gain
  • Lethargy or tiredness
  • Chronic anaemia
  • Bloating
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Irritability
  • Chronic constipation
  • Large, bulky, foul stool
  • Short stature
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Coeliac New Zealand is available throughout your journey. As part of our community, you’ll get support, advice, and assistance. We work with health professionals, manufacturers, and researchers to raise awareness of coeliac disease in NZ.

Together, we can reach a day when every person with coeliac disease gets diagnosed quickly, lives a healthy life, and has the prospect of a cure.

Get Involved

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Support your charity – the only not-for-profit supporting Kiwis with coeliac disease. Become part of Coeliac New Zealand now.

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We're recruiting for volunteers - interested? Share your knowledge and experience with others living with the disease. Find out how.

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Learning Resources

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Access the online course, approved by the Division for Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Munich, Germany.

Understand coeliac disease

Treatment

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Coeliac disease is treated with a life-long gluten free diet. By specifically removing the cause of the disease, this treatment generally means that the majority of symptoms (and blood test abnormalities) recover completely. Short stature and dental enamel defects are likely to persist, even with a gluten free diet, depending on how well established these are before the diagnosis is made. Recovery is dependent on strict adherence to the diet.

Some people may require an initial period of a lactose free diet in addition to their gluten-free diet. The damage to the villi interferes with the normal breakdown and absorption of lactose (milk sugar) due to secondary lactose intolerance. With recovery of the villi, progressive reintroduction of lactose might be tolerated again.

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Get Diagnosed

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Think you may be Coeliac. Find out what you need to do here

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Online Assessment

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Not sure? Take our free and confidential self-assessment

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About Coeliac New Zealand

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Your partner in
healthy living

Coeliac New Zealand is available throughout your journey. As part of our community, you’ll get support, advice, and assistance. We work with health professionals, manufacturers, and researchers to raise awareness of coeliac disease in NZ.

Together, we can reach a day when every person with coeliac disease gets diagnosed quickly, lives a healthy life, and has the prospect of a cure.

LATEST NEWS

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30/09/2024
Fibre - the often overlooked but vital nutrient blank

Over the next few months, Suzanne Atkin our dietitian is putting together a series of nutrition articles focusing on important and often deficient nutrients. The next in our nutrient series is the often overlooked but vital nutrient – fibre.  Fibre Fibre is a type of carbohydrate found only in plant products.   It does not provide […]

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16/08/2024
Know your nutrients blank

Over the next few months, Suzanne Atkin our dietitian is putting together a series of nutrition articles focusing on important and often deficient nutrients.  We start our series this month by talking about the mineral - Iron. What is iron and why do I need it? Iron is a mineral found in several proteins and […]

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31/07/2024
Callout for Favourite Member Recipes blank

For Coeliac Awareness Week 2024, Coeliac NZ volunteer Ingrid Karsten asked fellow Waikato members to share their favourite gluten-free recipes. Ingrid received so many amazing recipes that she had the idea to start compiling a “Virtual Recipe Book” of members' gluten-free recipes. She would love to hear from members all over the country to create […]

Read More
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