Guide To Understanding Celiac Disease

Complications Associated With Celiac Disease

If left untreated, celiac disease can result in many different and severe complications. Perhaps the most common is malnutrition, as the damage gluten causes to the small intestine makes it next to impossible for the body to absorb enough nutrients. Malnutrition often means weight loss, anemia, and slow growth in children. Women with untreated or poorly treated celiac disease are at an increased risk of miscarriage, and both men and women can face issues with infertility. The damage from celiac disease can also result in the development of lactose intolerance, which, though it can disappear if treatment is started, can also be permanent.

Other serious complications of untreated celiac disease include neurological problems and cancer. Specifically, a patient with celiac disease who fails to follow a gluten-free diet is at an increased risk of developing certain cancers, such as small bowel cancer and intestinal lymphoma. Neurological problems patients may experience include seizures and peripheral neuropathy.

Maintaining a gluten-free diet may not be necessary for those who do not suffer from celiac disease, but it is essential for those who do suffer from this condition to not only thrive but also to simply survive without serious potential complications.