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People with Coeliac disease should eat a gluten free diet, including abstaining from beer.
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Information about Coeliac Disease
Coeliac disease (pronounced seel-ee-ak) is a significant medical condition that can result in a number of serious consequences if not diagnosed and treated properly.
What is the cause?
In people with coeliac disease the immune system reacts abnormally to gluten.
Who gets Coeliac Disease?
People are born with a genetic predisposition to develop coeliac disease.
How Common is the Condition?
Blood screening tests have shown that coeliac disease affects approximately 1 in 100 Australians.
Can Coeliac Disease be Cured?
People with coeliac disease remain sensitive to gluten throughout their life, so in this sense, they are never cured.
How is the Condition Recognised?
The underlying genetic predisposition is present at birth.
What are the symptoms?
The symptons can vary from lethargy to cramping and bloating.
Problems with diagnosis
Since the symptoms of other conditions can closely mimic coeliac disease, correct diagnosis can only be made by showing that the bowel lining is damaged.
Diagnosis
Coeliac blood tests should be used for initial screening (“coeliac serology and IgA”).
What are the Long Term Risks of Undiagnosed Coeliac Disease?
Long term consequences are related to poor nutrition and malabsorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
How is the condition treated?
Coeliac disease is treated by a lifelong gluten free diet.
Notes about the Gluten Free Diet
Gluten is a rubbery and elastic protein found in wheat, rye, barley, triticale (a cross between wheat and rye) and oats.
Labelling of Gluten Free Food
The Australian Foods Standards Code requires that
The Coeliac Societies in Australia
Adult coeliacs, parents of coeliac children and those with dermatitis herpetiformis* have formed a coeliac society in each Australian state.