| Celiac
disease (CD), an inflammatory condition of the small intestine,
is brought about by the ingestion of a protein called gluten
which is contained in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is also
found in oats, but the toxicity of oats in cases of CD is uncertain.
Corn and rice do not contain gluten.
This disease, also called Celiac Sprue or Gluten Sensitive
Enteropathy (GSE), may flare up at any time in life, but occurs
most often in infancy after gluten containing cereals are
introduced to the diet. The resulting inflammation damages
the intestinal villi which causes malabsorbtion of nutrients,
fluids and electrolytes.
An individual
suffering from CD may experience quite severe diarrhea, weakness,
and weight loss. However, this disease may present with a
broad range of symptoms and severities, making it difficult
to diagnose.
Click
here
for more information on CD.
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