Celiac Disease Symptoms in Kids, Teens and Adults

Understanding Celiac Disease Symptoms

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is ingested. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. In individuals with celiac disease, the immune system reacts to gluten by attacking the lining of the small intestine, leading to a variety of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal symptoms.

Who Gets Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease affects around 1% of the population worldwide. It is more common in women than men and tends to run in families. People with a first-degree relative with celiac disease have a significantly higher risk of also developing the condition. Celiac disease can develop at any age after gluten is introduced into the diet.

Celiac Disease Symptoms in Children

Celiac disease symptoms in infants and children may include:

• Chronic diarrhea
• Failure to thrive
• Deficiencies in iron, vitamin D, vitamin K, and folic acid
• Abdominal bloating and pain
• Irritability and behavioral issues
• Dental enamel defects
• Delayed growth and short stature
• Delayed puberty

Since celiac symptoms in kids are variable and nonspecific, many cases go undiagnosed. Getting children tested early is important to avoid complications from untreated celiac disease.

Celiac Disease Symptoms in Teens

In teens, common celiac disease symptoms include:

• Chronic diarrhea, constipation, or other digestive issues
• Weight loss
• Failure to grow and develop normally
• Fatigue and weakness
• Joint pain
• Skin rashes
• Mouth sores
• Irritability and depression

Teens with undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease are more prone to anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, neurological issues and intestinal cancers later in life. Testing is recommended for high-risk teens.

Celiac Disease Symptoms in Adults

In adults, celiac disease may present with:

• Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas
• Chronic fatigue, weakness
• Unexplained weight loss or anemia
• Tingling numbness in hands and feet
• Joint pain, muscle cramps
• Leg swelling
• Itchy skin rash
• Mouth sores
• Migraine headaches

Adults newly diagnosed with celiac often have symptoms for years before the cause is identified. Testing for celiac is advised for adults with irritable bowel symptoms, anemia, or other unexplained health issues.

Silent Celiac Disease

Some people with celiac disease do not have any obvious gastrointestinal symptoms. This is known as silent celiac disease. They may instead experience:

• Anemia
• Osteoporosis
• Infertility
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Dental enamel defects
• Joint pain
• Chronic fatigue
• Canker sores
• Skin conditions

Without overt digestive symptoms, silent celiac disease often goes undiagnosed. Blood tests and intestinal biopsy can help identify these hidden cases.

Less Common Celiac Disease Symptoms

In addition to the common signs above, celiac disease may also rarely present with:

Pale, Foul-Smelling Stool

When the small intestine is severely damaged, it cannot properly absorb fats. This causes large amounts of fat to be lost in foul-smelling, pale-colored stools.

Weight Gain

Some celiac patients experience unexpected weight gain rather than weight loss. This may stem from the inability to absorb nutrients triggering carbohydrate cravings.

Nausea and Vomiting

Damage to the small intestine can slow digestion and create a buildup of toxins that provokes nausea and vomiting episodes.

Hair Loss

Nutrient deficiencies from celiac disease can trigger temporary hair loss or thin hair. Hair growth normally improves once on a gluten-free diet.

Missed Periods

Women with untreated celiac disease may have irregular or missed menstrual periods due to nutrient deficiencies disrupting reproductive hormones.

Infertility

If celiac disease causes nutrient deficiencies, it can impact fertility in both men and women. Going gluten-free often restores fertility.

Depression

Some studies link celiac disease with a slightly higher risk of depression, possibly tied to immune-inflammatory responses.

Epilepsy

Rarely, severe cases of untreated celiac disease can lead to seizures due to impaired nutrient absorption affecting neurological function.

Canker Sores

Mouth ulcers and canker sores may develop with celiac-related vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Blood in Stool

Intestinal bleeding from severe vilii damage can occasionally lead to visible blood in stools.

What Triggers Celiac Symptoms?

In responsive individuals, symptoms are triggered by the ingestion of gluten-containing foods like:

• Bread, pasta, cereal, baked goods with wheat flour
• Beer, ale, lagers brewed from barley
• Many processed foods with hidden wheat, barley, rye

Even tiny amounts of gluten can provoke celiac symptoms. Some notice effects immediately after eating gluten, while in others it takes hours or days to react.

Who Should Be Tested for Celiac Disease?

It is estimated that over 80% of people with celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Since the condition is so common and symptoms are highly variable, broad screening is recommended for at-risk groups, including:

• Anyone with a first-degree relative with celiac disease
• Patients with type 1 diabetes or autoimmune thyroid disorder
• Individuals with unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
• Irritable bowel syndrome patients with diarrhea
• People with persistent headaches or fatigue
• Children with growth failure or dental defects
• Patients with unexplained elevated liver enzymes

General screening for celiac disease is also advised for adults with gastrointestinal symptoms or any manifestations of malabsorption.

Diagnosing Celiac Disease with Blood Tests

Celiac disease blood tests help identify individuals likely to have the condition, who should then get a confirmatory small bowel biopsy. There are several key blood tests used:

Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies

This is the preferred single blood test for screening and diagnosing celiac disease. Elevated IgA tTGA levels have over 90% sensitivity and specificity for celiac if biopsy-confirmed.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.