Celiac disease

Diagnosis

Many celiac disease sufferers are unaware of their condition. It can be detected using two blood tests:

• Serology testing examines your blood for antibodies. A gluten-induced immune response is indicated by elevated levels of certain antibody proteins.
• Genetic testing to rule out celiac disease, hence why tests for human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8) can be performed.

Before experimenting with a gluten-free diet, it’s crucial to get tested for celiac disease. Eliminating gluten from your diet may cause blood test results to show as normal.

Your doctor will likely request one of the following tests if the results of these tests show celiac disease:

• Endoscopy. Upper endoscopy is a test that involves inserting a long tube with a small camera into your mouth and passing it down your throat. Your doctor can inspect your small intestine using the camera and obtain a little tissue sample (biopsy) to check for damage to the villi.
• Capsule endoscopy. This procedure employs a miniature wireless camera to capture images of your complete small intestine. The camera is enclosed within a capsule that is comparable in size to a vitamin, and you ingest it. While the capsule makes its way through your gastrointestinal system, the camera takes numerous photographs, which are then conveyed to a recorder.

A skin biopsy may be performed if your doctor suspects you have dermatitis herpetiformis in order to study the skin tissue under a microscope.

Treatment

The only treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet. In addition to wheat, foods containing gluten include graham flour, barley, farina, malt, bulgur, rye, durum, triticale, spelt, and semolina.

You can get assistance from a dietician who specializes in celiac disease in creating a nutritious gluten-free diet. Even if you don’t have any signs or symptoms from gluten in your diet, even minimal amounts might be harmful.

Foods, pharmaceuticals, and nonfood items can all contain gluten, including:

• Vitamin and mineral supplements
• Nutritional and herbal supplements
• Over-the-counter medications
• Food stabilizers, preservatives, and modified food starches
• Play dough
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Lipstick
• Envelope and stamp glue

Your small intestine’s inflammation will progressively decrease as you cut out gluten from your diet, improving your symptoms and allowing your body to recuperate. Children typically recover faster than adults do.

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Your small intestine’s inflammation will progressively decrease as you cut out gluten from your diet, improving your symptoms and allowing your body to recuperate. Children typically recover faster than adults do.

In the event of severe anemia or nutritional deficiencies, your healthcare provider or nutritionist may suggest the use of supplements, which may include:

• Vitamin B-12
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin D
• Iron
• Zinc
• Copper
• Folate

Most vitamins and supplements are taken orally as pills. Your doctor may inject vitamins if your digestive system has difficulties absorbing them.

Follow-up care

Regular medical checkups can make sure that your symptoms have improved since switching to a gluten-free diet. Blood tests will be used by your doctor to track your reaction.

A gluten-free diet will typically help celiac disease patients’ small intestines heal. That typically takes three to six months for kids. Complete recovery may take several years for adults.

You may require an endoscopy with biopsies if your symptoms persist or if they come back in order to establish whether your intestine has healed.

Medications to control intestinal inflammation

Your doctor might advise using steroids to reduce inflammation if your small intestine is significantly damaged or if you have celiac disease that is not responding to treatment. While the intestines heal, steroids can help with severe celiac disease symptoms.

Budesonide or azathioprine may also be used.

Treating dermatitis herpetiformis

Your doctor could advise a gluten-free diet and an oral medicine like dapsone if you have this skin rash. You will require routine blood tests to check for side effects if you use dapsone.

Refractory celiac disease

Your small intestine won’t repair itself if you have celiac disease that is refractory. You’ll then probably need to be assessed in a specialized facility. Refractory celiac disease is a serious condition for which there is currently no established treatment.