Celiac Disease: Symptoms and Treatment | Merck Manuals Hidden Health Stories

Celiac disease is a hereditary intolerance to gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) that causes characteristic changes in the lining of the small intestine, resulting in malabsorption. With celiac disease, the intestinal lining becomes inflamed after a person ingests the protein gluten.
Symptoms in adults include diarrhea, undernutrition, and weight loss. In children, symptoms include abdominal bloating, bulky, very foul-smelling stools, and failure to grow.

At a young age, Courtney noticed that certain foods, especially bread, made her feel sick. When her doctor learned that her grandma also had these symptoms, it helped him diagnose Courtney with celiac disease, a hereditary intolerance to gluten.

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