| Coeliac disease (also called celiac disease,
nontropical sprue, celiac sprue, gluten intolerant
enteropathy, or gluten sensitive enteropathy) is a condition
in which there is a chronic reaction to certain proteins
called glutens, found in some cereal grains. This reaction
causes destruction of the villi in the small intestine,
with resulting malabsorption of nutrients.
Coeliac disease runs in families. About 10% of the
close relatives (parents, children, and siblings) of
coeliacs may develop coeliac disease. The disease affects
both sexes, and it can begin at any age, from infancy
(as soon as cereal grains are introduced) to later life
(even though the person has eaten wheat all their life).
The onset of the disease seems to require two components:
a genetic predisposition, and some kind of trigger.
The trigger may be environmental (as in overexposure to
wheat), situational (perhaps severe emotional stress),
physical (such as a pregnancy, an operation), or
pathological (a viral infection).
Once thought to be a childhood disease that would be
outgrown, recent evidence indicates that it is not uncommon
for the symptoms of coeliac disease to disappear during
late childhood or adolescence, giving the appearance of a
cure. Unfortunately, damage still occurs during these years
of apparent health, and later in life these coeliacs may
find they have suffered considerable damage to the small
intestine, and have for years deprived themselves of
important nutrients.
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