There are more than 300 symptoms of celiac disease, and symptoms may vary among different people.
One person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person has irritability or depression. Some patients develop celiac symptoms early in life, while others feel healthy far into adulthood. Some people with celiac disease have no signs or symptoms.
These differences can make celiac diagnosis extremely difficult, resulting in 95% of celiacs undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.
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Left untreated, people with celiac disease can develop further complications such as other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, and cancer. Read about Related Diseases >>
Some of the most common symptoms of celiac disease include:
Anemia, delayed growth, and weight loss are signs of malnutrition. Malnutrition is a serious problem for anyone, but particularly for children because they need adequate nutrition to develop properly. Failure to thrive during childhood development is a common indicator of celiac.
Some people with celiac disease may have no symptoms at all.
This is known as asymptomatic celiac disease. The undamaged part of their small intestine is able to absorb enough nutrients to prevent symptoms. However, people without symptoms are still at risk for the complications of celiac disease.
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Bloating and Gas:
Bloating can cause abnormal swelling of the abdomen. This results in the feeling of a full or tight abdomen and is often accompanied by discomfort and pain. Gas can also cause bloating. Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance is one of the many causes of these two symptoms. They are also associated with many of the conditions that are a result of Celiac Disease such as irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.
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Diarrhea:
Diarrhea is the condition of having frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. This may be accompanied by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, or an urgent need to use the bathroom. Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a chronic disease. For someone with celiac disease diarrhea is often caused by malabsorption, the inability to absorb food.
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Constipation:
Constipation is a condition of the digestive system the stool is hard, difficult, and painful to pass. The most common causes of constipation are poor diet and lack of exercise. Frequent Constipation can be a symptom of more serious problem or health issue and can be an indicator of a disease or health condition.
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Fatigue:
Fatigue is a state of physical or mental weariness. It can be the result of both physical and mental sources. Chronic fatigue can be symptom of many different diseases or conditions among them are autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease.
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Itchy Skin Rash:
Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) has been associated with gluten sensitivity. It is characterized by an intensely itchy, chronic rashes that usually can be found primarily on elbows, knees, buttocks, back, and back of neck.
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Tingling/Numbness:
Tingling or Numbness are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body. It is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of a person's skin with no apparent long-term physical effect. It can also be described as "pins and needles" or referred to as a limb being "asleep."
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Pale Mouth Sores:
Pale Mouth Sores are caused by a break in the mucous membrane or the epithelium on the lips or surrounding the mouth. Various types of sores can appear anywhere within the mouth, including the inner cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, or palate. They can have many causes. Mouth Sores can be a sign of an a more serious medical conditions including but not limited to celiac disease.
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Joint Pain:
Joint pain can be caused by many types of injuries or conditions. It can range from mild or serious discomfort to chronic pain that can decrease a person’s range of motion in a joint or limb.
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Delayed Growth:
A slow rate of growth is defined as poor or abnormally slow height or weight gains, more specifically in children. Many children with delayed growth also have delays in mental development. This often occurs in children who have celiac disease as a result of malabsorption, the failure to properly absorb necessary nutrition, and provide the body with its needed nutrients for development .
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Poor Weight Gain:
Poor weight gain is the inability to gain weight at a normal rate. Malnutrition is one of the sources of this symptom. If poor weight gain is observed even though a proper diet is being maintained then complication caused by celiac disease could be possible explanation.
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Thin Bones:
Thin Bones are the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density over time. This occurs when enough new bone is not formed, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both. There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Symptoms occurring late in the disease include, bone pain or tenderness, fractures with little or no trauma, unexplained loss of height, low back pain, neck pain and stooped posture.
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Infertility:
Infertility primarily refers to an inability to contribute to conception. It can also refer to a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term. There are many biological causes of infertility. Celiac disease can result in infertility as well as serious complications during pregnancy.
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Headaches:
Headaches are a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and sometimes neck. It is among the most common pain complaints. Like other types of pain, headaches can serve as warning signals of more serious disorders. If headaches occur three or more times a month one should seek a doctor or medical professional for assistance immediately.
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Depression:
Depression refer to a feeling of being sad, helpless, and hopeless. Some symptoms of depression are anxious or empty moods, feeling hopeless, feelings of guilt, feelings of worthlessness, and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed. Health conditions such as celiac disease are among the biological influences that can cause depression.
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Irritability:
Irritability can also be described as crankiness and is defined as excessive feelings of annoyance or frustration. Irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children.
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Discolored Teeth:
Discolored teeth can be a symptom of celiac disease among other possible health issues. This symptom manifest as white, yellow, or brown spots on the teeth often appear on the incisors and molars. Tooth defects resulting from celiac disease are permanent and do not improve once a diagnosed patient adopts a gluten-free diet.
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Other helpful celiac disease symptoms resources:
WebMD | Mayo Clinic | NIH