Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder with one trigger: gluten. When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. That can lead to a host of health problems, and the inflammation brought on by this immune response can contribute to a wide array of symptoms.
These symptoms differ from person to person and can affect every system of the body. Here are the common symptoms of celiac disease you should know about.
Gastrointestinal issues
When you think about celiac disease, you might first think about gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. “For a large portion of people—40% to 60%—their main manifestation of the disease is gastrointestinal,” Salvatore Alesci, MD, PhD, chief scientist and strategy officer at the patient advocacy and research organization Beyond Celiac, tells Health. These symptoms can include constipation, diarrhea, cramps, bloating, and gas. Producing stool that floats or that is foul-smelling is another possible symptom of celiac disease, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.
