The symptoms of celiac disease differ between individuals, with some people only showing minimal symptoms that can easily go undiagnosed, while others are severely affected. Regardless of the extent of the symptoms, the damage to the intestinal lining still occurs in celiac-affected people.
Gastrointestinal symptoms of celiac disease are the symptoms that are most commonly associated with this disease. Common symptoms include:
- Embarrassing flatulence
- Uncomfortable bloating
- Appetite changes
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Excessive weight loss (as the body is unable to absorb nutrients), or sometimes weight gain (due to overeating to compensate for the lack of nutrient absorption)
- Other food sensitivities (e.g. lactose intolerance) due to intestinal damage
If celiac-affected people are not diagnosed and continue to consume gluten, serious damage occurs in the intestine, preventing the absorption of nutrients and leads to further non-gastrointestinal symptoms. Sometimes these non-gastrointestinal symptoms can occur in the absence of the gastrointestinal symptoms detailed above, which can further complicate an accurate diagnosis.
- Fatigue
- Painful migraines
- Irritability
- Depression and anxiety
- Musculoskeletal problems (e.g. muscle cramps and joint pain)
- Skin rashes
- Low iron levels (anemia)
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- Hair loss
- Mouth ulcers
- Dental enamel defects
- Missed menstrual periods
- Tingling in the legs or feet due to low calcium and nerve damage
- Celiac disease in children can lead to attention deficit disorder, decreased growth and development and delayed puberty
Serious complications can include:
- Seizures
- Severe vitamin deficiencies
- Osteoporosis
- Infertility and miscarriages
- Birth defects especially due to the poor absorption of folic acid
- Other autoimmune disorders (e.g. diabetes, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Other organ damage (e.g. kidney, liver and heart problems)