Introduction

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is a problem with digesting gluten. Gluten is a kind of protein found in foods like bread, crackers, and pasta. With celiac disease, your immune system harms your small intestine when you eat these kinds of foods. This makes it hard for your body to absorb nutrients that keep you healthy.

Gluten comes from grains like wheat, barley, and rye. It’s important to get treatment, because celiac disease can lead to iron deficiency anemia and osteoporosis. It can also raise your risk of lymphoma.

Celiac disease can slow growth and weaken bones in children. If it is not treated, your child can get very sick. Call a doctor if your child is losing a lot of weight, has diarrhea, or feels weak and tired for many days for no reason.