Celiac disease is a chronically undiagnosed and misdiagnosed condition

A woman who was wheelchair bound due to her diabetes and multiple sclerosis showed a dramatic improvement in her condition when she eliminated wheat, rye, barley and most dairy foods from her diet. Five years later she is still walking around with no need for a wheelchair. The idea of the diet was instigated by her neurologist who suggested that the elimination of gluten could alleviate spasms caused by MS. It is believed that only 3% of people with celiac are actually diagnosed. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, anemia, chronic fatigue, weakness, bone pain and muscle cramps. It is a genetic disorder and is often misdiagnosed as Crohn's disease, spastic colon-bowel or irritable bowel syndrome. European and those of European descent are most prone to the condition. The NIH reports that untreated celiac disease can increase the risk of gastrointestinal cancer. The only treatment is to avoid foods with gluten.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by The Clarion Ledger

Related Disease Topics:

• Celiac disease
• Diabetes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Genetic disorder
• Neurological disorder
• Crohn's disease
• Spastic colon-bowel
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gastrointestinal cancer

Related Symptom Topics:

• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Weight loss
• Anemia
• Chronic fatigue
• Weakness
• Bone pain
• Muscle cramps
• Spasms

Article Source Details

About: Celiac disease is a chronically undiagnosed and misdiagnosed condition

Date: 26 December 2004

Source: The Clarion Ledger

Author: John Schmeltzer

URL: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041226/BIZ/412260343/1005

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Diet
• Cause of gastrointestinal cancer
• Underdiagnosed
• Diagnosis and diet
• Diagnosis and diarrhea
• Diagnosis and bloating
• Diagnosis and weight loss
• Diagnosis and anemia
• Diagnosis and chronic fatigue
• Diagnosis and weakness
• Diagnosis and bone pain
• Diagnosis and muscle cramps
• Diagnosis and spasms
• Diagnosis and celiac disease
• Diagnosis and diabetes
• Diagnosis and multiple sclerosis
• Diagnosis and genetic disorder
• Diagnosis and neurological disorder
• Diagnosis and Crohn's disease
• Diagnosis and spastic colon-bowel
• Diagnosis and irritable bowel syndrome
• Misdiagnosed and diet
• Misdiagnosed and diarrhea
• Misdiagnosed and bloating
• Misdiagnosed and weight loss
• Misdiagnosed and anemia
• Misdiagnosed and chronic fatigue
• Misdiagnosed and weakness
• Misdiagnosed and bone pain
• Misdiagnosed and muscle cramps
• Misdiagnosed and spasms
• Misdiagnosed and celiac disease
• Misdiagnosed and genetic disorder
• Misdiagnosed and neurological disorder
• Misdiagnosed and Crohn's disease
• Misdiagnosed and spastic colon-bowel
• Misdiagnosed and irritable bowel syndrome
• Underdiagnosed and diet
• Underdiagnosed and diarrhea
• Underdiagnosed and bloating
• Underdiagnosed and weight loss
• Underdiagnosed and anemia
• Underdiagnosed and chronic fatigue
• Underdiagnosed and weakness
• Underdiagnosed and bone pain
• Underdiagnosed and muscle cramps
• Underdiagnosed and spasms
• Underdiagnosed and celiac disease
• Underdiagnosed and genetic disorder
• Underdiagnosed and neurological disorder

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