Understanding the Proper Diagnosis of Celiac Disease

The fact about celiac disease is that it can affect basically anyone at any age and from any background. Celiac disease may be present when you are born until adulthood. Studies have shown that this disease is no longer exclusive to individuals with Caucasian or European ancestry. Furthermore, there is no such thing as a typical patient with celiac disease, since there are sometimes no symptoms. Therefore, it is difficult to get a diagnosis of celiac disease. Nevertheless, it is important to have proper diagnosis of celiac disease, because leaving it untreated can lead to other serious health conditions.

Before getting a diagnosis of celiac disease, one must be familiar with what celiac disease is and what it isn’t. Celiac disease is not just a food allergy, as popularly believed. It should not be immediately diagnosed as a typical health condition caused by a fast histamine type of reaction. As mentioned earlier, sometimes a person with celiac disease does not actually display any symptoms.

Celiac disease is actually a genetic disease that is inherited. It is a common problem that is more widespread than you may think. Studies show that more than 2 million individuals may have celiac disease but have been undiagnosed. When left untreated, celiac disease causes damage to the muscosal lining inside the small intestine. This damage is called villous atrophy. It is basically caused by a reaction to gluten and is also connected to other health conditions that may be experienced by a patient such as dermatitis herpetiformis.

A proper diagnosis for celiac disease may reveal your genetic disposition, triggering factors such as physical, emotional, and environmental factors, and changes in diet.

Before getting a diagnosis of celiac disease, you should not make any changes to your diet, as doing so can lead to misdiagnosis. Although preventive measures are good, practice them after you have been properly diagnosed. If you’ve already been eating foods with gluten like pastas, breads, and crackers, then carry on consuming those foods as normal until a healthcare specialist has diagnosed you. Note that in some cases, your results may turn out negative for celiac disease although you may actually have it.

Oftentimes a diagnosis of celiac disease involves specific antibody tests for celiac disease and a small intestinal biopsy. To get proper diagnosis of celiac disease, your healthcare specialist will often perform a blood test to calculate levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase, immunoglobulin A, and igA anti-endomysium antibodies. If results show that you are positive for celiac disease you may require a small bowel biopsy. Basically, your healthcare specialist will take a sample of a tissue in your small intestine. The biopsy will reveal any damage found in the villi (responsible for absorbing nutrients in the body).

Getting a proper diagnosis of celiac disease means getting the right treatment for long-term health maintenance. You can look up standard information on celiac disease and its possible treatments over the Internet. However, always consult with a healthcare specialist before undergoing any kind of treatment.

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Click here to check out the Gluten-Free Guide to Eating. 25 Places to Get Amazing Gluten-Free Food Online and 25 Gluten-Free Recipes.