Celiac Disease Awareness Month
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Overview:
- Celiac disease, or gluten sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack the small intestine as a result of ingesting gluten-containing foods. The cause of celiac remains unknown, but there are risk factors that could make its onset more likely.
- Gluten is a protein often found in wheat and barley.
- Most of the problems associated with celiac have to do with growth and malnutrition due to intestinal damage.
- Complications of celiac only affect people who continue to consume gluten.
- There is no cure for celiac; however, a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet can help manage it.
Facts:
- Celiac is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide.
- Celiac is a genetic disease that parents pass down to their children. It only develops if a person was born with a specific gene.
- Some mild cases of celiac may result in no symptoms, and only a diagnosis can prove that a person has celiac.
- Some people could get symptoms after consuming gluten once, while others could get them after consuming gluten a few times.
- Symptoms could include:
- Diarrhea (the most common symptom)
- Disorders in the digestive system (e.g. nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, bloating and constipation)
- Loss of appetite
- The appearance of fats with feces; as they may not be absorbed into the body
- Fatigue and tiredness due to the poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients
- Unexplained weight loss
Objectives:
Raise awareness about the disease.
Official date:
- Globally: 1-30 May 2021
- Locally: 19 Ramadan - 19 Shawwal 1442H.
Theme:
«Raise Your Voice!»
References: