Question

1. Explain how celiac disease is diagnosed and why you should not start a gluten free diet prior to diagnosis.

Answer 1

Ans) Celiac disease: An immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

Celiac Disease is diagnosed by:

- As the symptoms of celiac disease are similar to some other digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease so only a doctor can tell for sure if a person has the disease.

- First the doctor will do a medical history, where they will ask about any concerns and symptoms, past health, family's health, any medications previously taking, any allergies and other issues. In addition to doing a medical history, physical examination will be performed.

- If a doctor suspects someone has celiac disease, ordering a blood test is usually a first step in diagnosing the disease.

- If the results of the blood test show a high level of antibodies to gluten and to certain other proteins in the intestinal lining — a sign that the person could have celiac disease — then the doctor may order a biopsy  of the small intestine to confirm the diagnosis.

- In the case of celiac disease, doctors take a tissue sample from the small intestine by inserting a long, thin tube called an endoscope through the mouth and stomach into the small intestine. A person is fully or moderately sedated during this procedure. In many cases, doctors use general anesthesia to put the patient to sleep. The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing.

- NCGS (Non- Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) can only be diagnosed through an elimination of gluten diet prior to first test for celiac disease.

- If a gluten-free diet resolves symptoms, then doctor may conclude the diagnosis of non-celiac gluten sensitivity.