The impact of undiagnosed coeliac disease on children is huge.
The MP for Mid Sussex, Mims Davies commented:
“As someone living with coeliac disease for over 20 years , I know the relief that a diagnosis brings alongside the empowerment of taking control to make yourself feel better. It is estimated, there are up to half a million people living undiagnosed with coeliac disease in the UK. If you recognise any of the symptoms below either in yourself, your child or another person, please either take the on line self-assessment test below and go to your GP . The difference that this formal diagnosis makes is immense to daily life for people at any age.”
Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition. When people with the disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye), their body attacks its own tissues. If left untreated, it can cause gut damage and serious health complications like osteoporosis. The only treatment is a strict gluten free diet for life. But you must keep gluten in your diet until you’re officially diagnosed. You need to be eating gluten to get an accurate result. But the good news is that once diagnosed and on a gluten free diet, symptoms usually start to improve quite quickly.
If you or someone you know is persistently experiencing any of the symptoms below, it’s worth taking the online self-assessment at https://isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk to see if you should speak to your GP about getting tested:
- Stomach problems, like pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, or excessive wind
- Persistent or unexplained nausea and vomiting
- Extreme fatigue
- Anaemia
- Any deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid
- Mouth ulcers
- Sudden or unexpected weight loss (but not in all cases)
- Skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
- Tooth enamel problem
- Liver abnormalities
- Unexplained subfertility (not getting pregnant after a year of trying with no clear reason why)
- Repeated miscarriages
- Neurological (nerve) problems such as ataxia (loss of coordination, poor balance) and peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet)