Gluten, a protein present in wheat, barley, and rye, causes an abnormal immune response in people with celiac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy), a digestive disorder that results.
In people with celiac disease, eating gluten causes an immune response that damages the lining of the small intestine over time and prevents some nutrients from being absorbed (malabsorption). The intestinal damage frequently results in diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating, and anemia and can cause serious complications.
Along with the symptoms seen in adults, malnutrition in children can have an impact on growth and development.
Intestinal healing can be accelerated by strictly avoiding gluten in your diet.
This condition, known as nonresponsive celiac disease, is frequently caused by contamination of the diet with gluten, so it’s important to work with a dietitian. As many as 30% of people with celiac disease may not have, or be able to maintain, a good response to a gluten-free diet.
People who have celiac disease that is not responding to treatment may also have microscopic colitis, poor pancreatic function, irritable bowel syndrome, or intolerance to the disaccharides lactose and fructose, or they may have refractory celiac disease.
Refractory celiac disease is a condition where the intestinal damage caused by celiac disease continues despite strict gluten avoidance and results in significant malabsorption.
Causes
Infant feeding practices, gastrointestinal infections, and gut bacteria may all play a role in the development of celiac disease. Celiac disease is thought to result from an interaction between genes, consuming gluten-containing foods, and other environmental factors, though the exact cause is unknown.
Surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or extreme emotional stress can occasionally cause celiac disease to flare up or become active for the first time.
The small, hair-like projections (villi), which line the small intestine and absorb vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from the food you eat, are damaged when the body’s immune system overreacts to gluten in food. If your villi are damaged, no matter how much food you eat, you won’t get enough nutrients.
Having certain gene variations does not guarantee that you will develop celiac disease, despite the fact that they seem to increase your risk of doing so, suggesting that other factors must also be at play.
Celiac disease, which is most prevalent in Caucasians but is now being diagnosed in many ethnic groups and is now found globally, affects about 1% of the population in Western nations.
Symptoms
The most typical symptoms of celiac disease in adults are diarrhea, exhaustion, and weight loss, although some other symptoms such as bloating and gas, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, and vomiting may also be present.
The following signs and symptoms are present in more than 50% of adults with celiac disease but are unrelated to the digestive system:
Anemia, which is typically caused by a lack of iron
Osteoporosis or osteomalacia, which is the softening or loss of bone density
Dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin rash that is itchy and blistery
· Damage to dental enamel
· Mouth ulcers
· Headaches and fatigue
Damage to the nervous system, which may result in cognitive decline, balance issues, and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
· Joint pain
Hyposplenism is the term for diminished splenic function.
· Acid reflux and heartburn
Children
The following are typical celiac disease symptoms in children under the age of two:
· Vomiting
· Chronic diarrhea
· Swollen belly
· Failure to thrive
· Poor appetite
· Muscle wasting
Older children may experience:
· Diarrhea
· Constipation
· Weight loss
· Irritability
· Short stature
· Delayed puberty
Neurological symptoms, such as seizures, learning disabilities, headaches, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and lack of coordination in the muscles
Refractory celiac disease is a condition where the intestinal damage caused by celiac disease continues despite strict gluten avoidance and results in significant malabsorption.
Risk factors
Anyone can develop celiac disease, but it is more typical in those who have:
A member of the family who suffers from herpes herpetiformis or celiac disease
· Type 1 diabetes
Turner syndrome, Down syndrome, etc.
· Autoimmune thyroid disease
Collagenous or lymphocytic colitis, or microscopic colitis
· Addison’s disease
· Rheumatoid arthritis
Complications
Celiac illness can result in:
·Malnutrition.Malnutrition can cause anemia and weight loss, slow growth and short stature in children, and damage to your small intestine, which prevents it from absorbing enough nutrients.
·Loss of calcium and bone density.Osteomalacia, also known as rickets, is a bone softening condition that affects children, while osteoporosis affects adults and is caused by a lack of bone density.
·Infertility and miscarriage.Reproductive problems may be exacerbated by vitamin D and calcium malabsorption.
·Lactose intolerance.Even though lactose-containing dairy products don’t contain gluten, damage to your small intestine may cause you to experience abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating them. Once your intestine heals, you may be able to tolerate dairy products once again, but some people still experience lactose intolerance despite successful management of celiac disease.
·Cancer.Intestinal lymphoma and small bowel cancer are two cancers that are more likely to develop in celiac disease patients who don’t follow a gluten-free diet.
·Neurological problems.Peripheral neuropathy, a condition affecting the nerves that supply the hands and feet, can occur in some celiac disease sufferers. These issues can include seizures.
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
When it comes to Celiac disease, there are many effective medicines available in homoeopathy, but the choice depends on the individuality of the patient, taking mental and physical health into account. Homoeopathy is currently a rapidly growing system that is being used throughout the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual by promoting inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical levels
ARSENICUM ALBUM 30Arsenic album is recommended for Celiac disease with extreme weight loss, heartburn, gulping up of acid and bitter substances that seem to excoriate the throat, burning pain in stomach, nausea, and retching. Diarrhea with small, dark, offensive stools with much prostration, worse at night.
CARBO VEGETABILIS 30—Carbo veg is best for celiac disease with cadaverous smelling stools that are followed by burning. Abdomen greatly distended, especially upper part, worse lying down, better passing wind.
CHINA 30China is one of the best treatments for celiac disease, which manifests as undigested, foamy, dark, foul, watery, bloody, and painless stools, as well as diarrhea, weakness, and exhaustion.
LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM 30Lycopodium clavatum is recommended for Celia disease with flatulent abdominal symptoms, including loud, pressing flatulence, bloating after eating, fermentation in the intestines that appears to be caused by yeast, a feeling of a hard body rolling when turning to the right side, and gnawing abdominal pain.
KALI CARBONICUM 30—Kali carb is recommended for people with Celiac disease who experience a flatulent abdomen, which includes an enlarged, hard, tympanitic, and cold abdomen with throbbing pain at the navel, constipation that alternates with diarrhea, and an enlarged, sensitive stomach that causes anxiety and causes nausea and sour belching.
NATRUM SULPHURICUM 30—Natrum sulph is a great treatment for Celiac disease, which causes diarrhea and yellow, watery stools that are involuntary when passing flatus.
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