Coeliac disease affects about one in a thousand people and is frequently diagnosed in childhood. It is a serious condition which involves special catering considerations. Luckily there are many gluten-free, coeliac-friendly foods available.
What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease involves a complete intolerance to the protein gluten, found in certain grains. It means that the child must avoid all sources of gluten. Gluten damages the wall of the small intestine, and so nutrients then cannot be absorbed properly, resulting in malnutrition.
Symptoms range from mild to severe. They include digestive upsets, mouth ulcers, tiredness, breathlessness, anaemia, diarrhoea and weight loss. Coeliac disease is diagnosed via blood tests and confirmed by a tissue biopsy from the small intestine.
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