Information for the public
Coeliac disease
Coeliac disease
When someone has coeliac disease, their small intestine (the part of the intestine where food is absorbed) becomes inflamed if they eat food containing gluten. This reaction to gluten makes it difficult for them to digest food and nutrients. Gluten is found in foods that contain wheat, barley and rye (such as bread, pasta, cakes and some breakfast cereals).
Symptoms of coeliac disease may be similar to those of other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. Common symptoms include indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating or stomach pain. People can also develop anaemia (a condition in which a person doesn't have enough red cells in their blood to carry oxygen around the body); lose weight; or have ongoing tiredness, thinning bones, reproductive problems, or problems that affect growth or puberty. Some people might have several of these symptoms, but others might have very few or no symptoms. Some people may have had symptoms for a long time.
When people eat gluten and their small intestine becomes inflamed, their bodies produce antibodies, which can show up on a blood test. Once coeliac disease has been diagnosed, the main treatment is to avoid eating foods that contain gluten for the rest of their lives (a lifelong gluten‑free diet).