FacebookWhat are the symptoms of coeliac disease in adults?
Around 1% of the population has coeliac disease, but most people do not receive a correct diagnosis, preventing them from addressing the problem with a gluten-free diet, the only effective treatment.
Coeliac disease can present itself through many different symptoms. If you have a family member with coeliac disease, or if you are wondering whether you have the disease yourself, reviewing the most common symptoms for this condition may provide some clarity. Please keep in mind that this is not medical advice and if you suspect you may have coeliac disease, see a doctor as soon as possible.
As coeliac disease symptoms are similar to other conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, in the past, coeliac disease was often misdiagnosed. However, the national clinical guideline for IBS specifies that any patients suspected of having IBS (with symptoms similar to those shown in coeliac disease) are tested for coeliac disease first.
1. Diarrhoea
Coeliac disease causes damage to the lining of the small intestine which may trigger gut symptoms such as diarrhoea. Many people notice loose, watery stools as the first symptom of coeliac disease, though this symptom is easily attributed to other conditions and cannot be used to diagnose coeliac disease in itself.
Several studies have identified diarrhoea as one of the most common early signs of coeliac disease. In a study published in Gastroenterology, 79% of participants reported frequent diarrhoea prior to receiving treatment. And research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research in 2019 found that diarrhoea was the symptom most likely to be entered as a search term before a query about coeliac disease.
2. Constipation
On the opposite end of the spectrum from diarrhoea is constipation, but it is another common symptom of coeliac disease. When a person with coeliac disease consumes gluten, the body launches an autoimmune attack, treating the proteins in gluten like foreign invaders. In attacking those proteins, the immune cells also mistakenly cause damage to the villi lining the small intestine – the tiny finger-like projections that absorb nutrients from food passing through the digestive tract.
3. Gas or bloating
Other digestive symptoms commonly linked to coeliac disease include gas and bloating. The autoimmune activity that damages the small intestine can also cause inflammation which may result in bloating, among other gut issues. In one study of over 1,000 participants, bloating was among the most commonly reported symptoms, affecting 73% of participants. Another common symptom of undiagnosed coeliac disease is frequent gas.
4. Changes in weight
In the early stages of coeliac disease when malnutrition becomes a factor, it is not uncommon for patients to lose weight or to have trouble keeping weight on. This is also a common symptom in children with undiagnosed coeliac disease. According to one study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, weight loss was reported in 23% of coeliac disease patients. The trouble is that weight loss can also be attributed to other conditions like diabetes, depression, cancer or thyroid issues. As with gas and bloating, it is important to pair weight changes with symptoms to make a more accurate diagnosis. Seek advice if you are concerned about your weight loss.
5. Chronic fatigue
One of the more usual symptoms of undiagnosed coeliac disease is decreased energy levels or fatigue. There are several factors related to coeliac disease which contribute to this symptom. According to one study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, people with coeliac disease experienced more severe fatigue and more fatigue-related problems.
6. Depression or anxiety
Some of the most common symptoms of undiagnosed coeliac disease are not physical but mental. According to an analysis of 29 separate studies, depression is more common and more severe in adults with coeliac disease than among the general population. While there are many potential causes for depression, another study of over 2,250 participants found that 39% of patients self-reported depressive symptoms, so it is not a symptom to be ignored.
7. Skin rashes
Some coeliac patients develop the disease dermatitis herpetiformis - an itchy, blistering skin rash on the elbows, knees, or buttocks (also known as the skin manifestation of coeliac disease).
8. Headaches
According to a 2013 study by the American Headache society, migraines were more prevalent in coeliac disease patients than in the general population.
9. Mouth ulcers
Aphthous stomatitis is a very common, recurrent painful ulceration that occurs inside the mouth, with higher prevalence among coeliac patients than the general population.
10. Iron-deficiency anaemia
By now you know full well that coeliac disease can lead to the malabsorption of nutrients, due to the damage to the lining of the villi within the small intestine. One of the nutrients it can cause a deficiency of is iron.
Iron is needed for making red blood cells. Iron-deficiency anaemia caused by coeliac disease may produce symptoms of its own including weakness, fatigue, chest pain, headaches, and dizziness.
