Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible individuals, causing damage to the small intestine’s villi and impairing nutrient absorption. It primarily affects the small intestine but can lead to extraintestinal manifestations such as anemia, osteoporosis, dermatitis herpetiformis, and neurological issues. Symptoms include chronic diarrhea, abdominal bloating/pain, fatigue, weight loss, iron-deficiency anemia, and in children, delayed growth. It is strongly linked to HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes; gluten exposure is the environmental trigger. Prevalence: Approximately 1% of the population worldwide; in the US, about 1 in 133 people, though many remain undiagnosed.