How Do People Know If They Have It?

Someone who has a lot of stomachaches, diarrhea, weight loss, or any of the other symptoms mentioned above should talk to a doctor. It may or may not be celiac disease, but a doctor can help sort this out and will usually order a screening blood test.

If the screening tests show a person might have celiac disease, the next stop is usually a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in digestive problems. This specialist may decide to take a sample of the person's small intestine to look at under the microscope. This small sample is called a biopsy. If a biopsy is done, the doctor will give the person some special medicine to keep him or her comfortable during the procedure.
How Is It Treated?

Celiac disease is treated by not eating gluten. This can be difficult because gluten is in many foods, but a dietitian can help adjust someone's diet to cut out gluten. It is important not to start a gluten-free diet unless you are truly diagnosed with celiac disease.

Following a gluten-free diet allows the small intestine to heal. But that doesn't mean the person can start eating gluten again. For someone with celiac disease, gluten will always irritate the intestines and, if this happens, the diarrhea, stomachaches, and other problems will return.

If you're diagnosed with celiac disease, it can be a challenge to learn which foods contain gluten. You may not be able to remember them all, but you can keep a list with you and ask about menu items at restaurants before digging in. Before you know it, you'll be a pro at knowing which foods are safe and which are not.