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How common is Coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is more common that previously thought. One study
indicates that 1 in 250 Australians have the condition whilst another study
suggests that the prevalence is 1 in 100. A similar study in Christchurch,
New Zealand, found 1 in 84 people affected by coeliac disease. It is now
known that coeliac disease affects up to 1% of many communities - over ten times
the figure quoted ten years ago. Only 10-20% of individuals with coeliac
disease are currently diagnosed despite many of them having symptoms or
complications attributable to the condition. Coeliac disease had been
considered to be predominantly a disease of Caucasians, but is known to occur in
the population of India and some Middle Eastern countries. It is, however,
very uncommon in the Oriental Asian and Australian Aboriginal population. In
the past, it was regarded as only a childhood condition, which produced symptoms
in very young children. It is now known that it can affect a person at any
age from infancy to senior years. Many have few or no problems during
childhood but develop symptoms only as adults. In addition, the symptoms
of coeliac disease can be minor or atypical and can even be clinically silent.
Can Coeliac disease be cured?
People with coeliac disease remain sensitive to gluten throughout their life,
so, in this sense, they are never cured- even if symptoms disappear, damage to
the small bowel can still be taking place, if gluten is being ingested.
However after the removal of gluten from the diet, a reversal of the
abnormalities of the lining of the bowel occurs and the problem of deficiencies
resolve. Older patients often take long to recover. Relapse occurs if
gluten is reintroduced. People with coeliac disease should remain
otherwise healthy as long as they adhere to the diet.
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Coeliac Disease - what is it?
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