Celiac Disease FAQ
What is Celiac Disease? Celiac is an autoimmune digestive disease. Celiac attacks the villi or finger like hairs of the small intestine when gluten is digested. What is Gluten? Gluten is the protein found in wheat (including spelt, triticale and kamut), barley, rye and can be found in oats depending on if the oats are manufactured in the same facility with any gluten containing flours. For more information about the gluten-free diet, please visit: National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Is Celiac Disease contagious? No. You will not catch Celiac Disease. However, it is hereditary. How do I know if I have Celiac? Go to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness and take their symptom checklist, if you suspect you have Celiac go to your doctor and ask that they run the following blood tests: - Endomysial antibody (EMA-IgA) - Tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG - IgA/IgG) - Anti-gliadin antibody (AGA-IgG, AGA-IgA) - Total serum IgA These blood tests must be done while consuming gluten. Once these blood tests are run, you will need to have an upper GI endoscopy and biopsy to help diagnose the disease. |
- Ongoing bloating, gas or abdominal pain - Chronic diarrhea, constipation or both - Unexplained weight loss or weight gain - Unexplained anemia - Bone pain or joint pain - Behavior changes, depression and/or irritability - Vitamin K Deficiency - Fatigue, weakness or lack of energy - Delayed growth or delayed onset of puberty - Failure to thrive (in infants) - Infertility (male or female) - Missed menstrual periods - Canker sores inside mouth - Spontaneous miscarriages - Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel If you have any of these symptoms, contact your primary care doctor. Do NOT self-diagnose. Do NOT begin a gluten-free diet until all of the Celiac testing has been preformed. |
Statements or information provided on Solano County Celiacs should not be taken as a diagnosis. Please consult a knowledgable doctor and make sure to continue consuming gluten! If your doctor tells you to stop eating gluten before he/she does a blood test or endoscopy, please present them information provided by the Celiac Disease Foundation - Getting a Proper Diagnosis. If your doctor will still not listen to you, seek another doctor. Self-diagnosis is strictly NOT recommended. Links provided on this site are to certified Celiac Disease websites. |
