Celiac disease is a very common gastroenterology disorder, but it affects more than just your tummy. It is diagnosed by a gastroenterologist, treated with diet, and the effects of the treatment can begin to take place immediately. If you are suffering from some of the symptoms of the disease, consult your doctor immediately about being referred to a GI doctor.
As many as one in three-hundred people are diagnosed with the gluten intolerance in Northern European countries, and even though the concentration of the disease in the United States is a much lower percentage, it is thought that is severely under diagnosed.
Typical, and the most recognizable symptoms, are those that pertain to upset stomach, diarrhea, fatty stools, and other issues easily attributed to the intestines, but skin lesions, lethargy, and, for children, failure to grow and thrive area also attributed to the condition. If you are suffering from these or any other similarly suspicious symptoms, ask your primary care physician about consulting with a doctor of gastroenterology. You will likely undergo an upper endoscopy to obtain samples of the small intestine; a pathologist will then help determine a diagnosis.
