Health

Celiac Disease/Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms & Diagnosis

By Jane Anderson, About.com Guide

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten (proteins in wheat, barley, and rye) causes the body's immune system to damage the small intestine. Gluten sensitivity potentially involves a different immune system reaction to gluten. Learn how both conditions are diagnosed.

Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity Basics
When to Suspect Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity
Testing for Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity
Just Diagnosed? What You Need To Know

Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity Basics

In both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, your body reacts when you eat food containing gluten, a protein found in the grains wheat, barley and rye. Although the symptoms are identical, the two appear to be different conditions.

When to Suspect Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity

The signs and symptoms of celiac disease are easy to confuse with other medical conditions, and it can take years to get a diagnosis. Meanwhile, people with gluten sensitivity share nearly-identical symptoms. Here's what to look for.

Testing for Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity

To diagnose celiac disease, doctors rely on a combination of blood tests, small intestine biopsies, and the body’s response to the gluten-free diet. Tests for gluten sensitivity still are in development.

Just Diagnosed? What You Need To Know

If you've just been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, here's what you need to know.

Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity

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