Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and damages the villi in the small intestine upon ingestion of gluten. The damaged villi can no longer properly absorb nutrients. It is commonly found in people of European ancestry and children or relatives of those with celiac disease are at a higher risk. The only treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet, though following the diet allows the villi to heal and patients to live healthy lives, the disease itself cannot be cured.

1. Celiac DiseaseBy: Jess Kovach

2. Inherited, chronic, autoimmune DiseaseAutoimmune diseases- immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissueNot communicableDamaged villi in small intestineVilli are projections that line the small intestine and absorb nutrientsGluten damages villiProteins such as Wheat, Barley, Rye, and Oats damage villiCeliac Disease

3. UnknownResearchers only know that the villi, damaged from gluten and certain proteins, become flattened and can no longer absorb proteins properly.Causeshealthy villi in small intestine

4. Commonly found in people with Caucasian and European ancestryChildren, Women, Men...EveryoneChildren in a family with someone who has Celiac Disease is at a greater risk of developing the diseaseIncubation period: anytime from birth through adulthood **(There is no guarantee you will be effected by the disease!)Who Gets It??

5. Varying SymptomsGastrointestinal SymptomsNon-intestinal symptomsAbdominal PainBloating, GasIndigestionConstipationDiarrhea- chronic or occasionalLactose IntoleranceNausea-VomitingStools that float, are bloody, are fatty, are foul smellingAnemia low blood countBone/Joint PainBone Disease/FracturesOsteoporosisBreathlessnessDepressionFatigue

6. BreathlessnessDental and enamel discoloration & defectsGrowth delay in kidsHair lossDermatitis Herpetiformis (not in all cases)Varying SignsDermatitis Herpetiformis is an itchy, skin rash found mostly on the elbows and kneesAnother Form of CeliacDermatitis HerpetaformisSevere, itchy, blistering skin condition“Sister” to CeliacEveryone with DH has Celiac, but not everyone with Celiac has DH!!!Found on elbows, knees, buttock, scalp, back of neckBlistering Dermatitis Herpetaformis

7. Serological (blood) TestsStudy of the blood stream where doctors look for antibodies that are forming in response to an infection to one’s own proteins. BiopsyIf a serological test comes back positive, a biopsy of the villi in the small intestine is completed.You can also biopsy the dermatitis Herpetaformisif you have that form of CeliacEnforced Gluten-Free dietIf the blood test and biopsy come back positive, the patient is put on GF diet, if he/she responds positively to the diet and the villi in the small intestine returns to normal, the patient is unfortunately diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Diagnosis Process

8. Prevention: unknown because there is an unknown cause of the diseaseTreatment: lifelong Gluten-Free dietPrognosis: Although the GF diet allows the villi to heal and patients to live a happy, healthy life, the disease will never go awayPrevention/Treatment/Prognosis