Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Symptoms shown by celiac patient differs from patient to patient. Diarrhea and loss of weight due to malabsoption are two main symptoms which are common in infants as well as in children above age 12. Symptoms shown by celiac patient shows effect on the digestive system, behavior and physical growth of the person.
Effect on digestive system
Diarrhea
- In celiac disease small intestine is incapable of absorption the nutrients or digested food material like fats, proteins and carbohydrate.
- Malabsorption of the fats causes gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea.
- Bacteria inside the small intestine break fat into fatty acids. Fatty acids stimulate the secretion of water inside intestine causing diarrhea.
- Stool is of large volume with stinking smell as compare to normal one. Stool is grey in colour and always floats on the surface of the body.
- Sometime drops of oil can also see in stool, it is undigested fat.
Pain in abdomen
In celiac disease patient shows acute abdominal pain at upper and lower part of the abdomen. Cramps in stomach i.e. lots of pain in stomach muscles.
Swelling in abdomen
Swelling or inflammation in abdomen is seen in patient suffered from celiac disease.
Flatulence
Lots of gas is formed due to problem in absorption of the digested food. Person passes gas with foul smell from anus.
Paleness
Skin of the patient becomes pale. Eyes lining, tongue and palm of hands become pale
Person becomes weak causing anemia.
Weakness
Patient becomes weak and does not like to talk with others. He/she can not do so heavy work because of weakness and get tired soon.
Behavioral Symptoms
Irritability
Person becomes very sensitive to any kind of response. You can see these patients always in tension or stress; sometime they might get angry very easily.
Depression
Celiac patient are always in depression, he/she is not able to concentrate on any work, feels very uncomfortable and nervous.
Change in behavior
Behavior of the person changes. Person get confused in small things and shows fear, worry and psychological problem can be developed.
Symptoms due to malabsorption
Loss of weight
- In celiac, small intestine of the patient is not able to absorb digested food material.
- Nutrients are very important for growth and development of the body. Without nutrients person becomes weak and loses weight gradually.
Delay growth
- For normal growth all nutrients like carbohydrate, proteins, fats and vitamins are required.
- In celiac patient, small intestine is not able to absorb all these contents. These children show delayed growth as compare to growth of normal children.
Fatigue
Fatigue is losing energy and strength because of weakness and low weight. Mental stress or also causes fatigue.
Pain
Patient suffering from headache, joint pain and pain in back as well as stomach ache.
Other symptoms
- Fingers and arms feel abnormal sensation like itchy and numbness
- Menstrual periods become irregular.
- Mouth sores are developed
- Arthritis- Patient shows swelling or inflammation in joints with pain
- Constipation
- Osteoporosis
