Celiac Disease
Alternate Names : Celiac Sprue, Nontropical Sprue, Sprue, Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy, Gluten Intolerance
What can be done to prevent the disease?
There is no way to prevent celiac disease. Genetic testing may be useful in some cases.
What are the long-term effects of the disease?
The long-term effects of celiac disease include:
anemia, which is a reduction in the number of red blood cells circulating in the blood
delayed growth
bone loss. Bone loss can cause osteomalacia in adults, with bone pain and tenderness. Bone loss in children is seen as rickets, with bowlegs, a protruding stomach and a pigeon breast in children.
defects of the nervous system
inflammation of the skin
malignant lymphoma
What are the risks to others?
Celiac disease is not contagious. It is an inherited disease, but the way it is inherited is not clear. Genetic counseling is useful for those at risk of passing it to their children. The risk for identical twins may be as high as 70%. The risk for other brothers and sisters is 10%. The risk for children of parents with celiac disease is 5-10%.
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