Celiac disease resources from AboutKidsHealth
May is Celiac Awareness Month. Celiac disease affects about 1 in 100 Canadians and occurs in people all over the world, at any age and from all backgrounds. Find information about celiac disease in children for parents and caregivers in AboutKidsHealth’s recently updated resources on celiac disease.
AboutKidsHealth’s Celiac disease article and eLearning modules cover:
- the symptoms of celiac disease
- how celiac disease is diagnosed
- how celiac disease is treated
- how gluten affects people with celiac disease
In people with celiac disease, any contact with gluten triggers a reaction from the body’s immune system. This immune response causes damage to the lining of the small intestine (or gut).
A healthy small intestine is lined with tiny finger-like projections, called villi, that stick up from the surface. These increase the area available to absorb nutrients from food. When children with celiac disease are exposed to gluten, their body’s immune reaction damages villi, and they become flat.
How is celiac disease diagnosed?
Doctors can order blood tests to screen for celiac disease. Depending on the results of these tests, they may discuss further testing. For example, they may recommend an upper endoscopy to confirm diagnosis of celiac disease. An upper endoscopy allows doctors to see the upper part of the gastrointestinal system.
The illustrations below show the difference between healthy and damaged villi and where in the body the villi are located, as well as what happens during an upper endoscopy to confirm diagnosis of celiac disease.
For more information about celiac disease, including a list of possible gastrointestinal system symptoms, malabsorption-related symptoms, and signs and symptoms affecting the brain, skin, mouth, reproductive system and other parts of the body, please see, Celiac disease.
AboutKidsHealth has also launched a Celiac Disease Learning Hub with more articles and eLearning modules on celiac disease, the gluten-free diet, and resources and supports for parents and children.
AboutKidsHealth is SickKids’ health-education website and features more than 3,500 articles on a range of health topics. For more information on celiac disease and other health topics, visit www.aboutkidshealth.ca.
