Celiac disease is one of the most common lifelong diseases and affects children and adults at the same rate. Celiac disease can also be found on every continent and amongst many ethnic backgrounds. About 21 million people in the United States have either celiac disease (CD) or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).
“The National Celiac Association is a leading support group nationwide in providing cutting edge information, organizing events for patients and families and in networking with academic celiac centers in order to provide the best support possible to the celiac community.”
Dr. Alessio Fasano
Medical Director, Center for Celiac Research
Chief, Div. of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Massachusetts General Hospital
FAQs about celiac disease
- About one percent of the population has celiac disease (CD) or about three million people in the US.
- About six percent have non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or about 18 million people.
- One in 22 people with immediate family members (such as (mom, dad, or a sibling) with celiac disease also have the condition.
- One in 39 people of secondary relatives (such as an aunt or cousin etc.) with celiac disease also have the condition.
- In the U.S., the average age of diagnosis for children is seven years old.
- Untreated CD increases the risk of certain cancers by 200 to 300 percent.
- Medical costs are six times higher for those who have CD but are not following a gluten-free diet.
- Ten percent of children with Down’s Syndrome have celiac disease.
There are over 200 symptoms of celiac disease and they vary so widely among people that there is no such thing as a “typical” case of celiac disease. The type and severity of symptoms depend upon the individual. Some people with celiac disease report having no symptoms at all.
Celiac disease is one of the most common lifelong diseases and affects both children and adults. Celiac disease can be found on every continent from a diverse range of ethnicities.
Commonly reported symptoms among adults and children include:
|Abdominal cramping / bloating / distention||Anemia||Bloating and vomiting||Brain fog|
|Canker sores||Constipation||Dental abnormalities||Diarrhea|
|Edema||Electrolyte imbalance||Fatigue||Flatus (passing gas)|
|Headaches||Infertility / miscarriages||Muscle cramping (hands and legs)||Nutrient deficiencies|
|Osteopenia / osteoporosis||Pain in bones and joints||Stools (loose, hard, small, large, foul smelling, light tan or gray, frothy)||Weakness|
|Weight loss or gain (unexplained)|
Symptoms Common in Children
|Delayed puberty||Diarrhea||Difficulty concentrating|
|Distended abdomen||Failure to thrive||Irritability|
|Personality changes||Poor memory||Poor growth|
- Celiac disease workshop for healthcare professionals (CEUs)
- Clinical handouts