What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of celiac disease vary amongst different people. Some patients develop symptoms early in life, while others feel healthy far into adulthood.

Symptoms of celiac disease may or may not occur in the digestive system. For example, one person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person has irritability or depression. In fact, irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children.

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 not have symptoms. 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.

Last Updated July 10, 2007