Risk Factors For Xerophthalmia

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a genetic immune disease in which patients cannot eat gluten because of the damage it will do to the small intestine. Individuals who have celiac disease and eat gluten discover their immune systems respond by damage to the small intestine. Gluten is found in rye, wheat, and barley. Beyond baked goods, it may also be present in other products like products for the hair and skin, toothpaste, lip balms, and vitamins and supplements. This disease affects various individuals differently. Symptoms may strike in the digestive system or in other body parts. One patient might experience diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another may present with irritability and depression. Some celiac disease patients have no symptoms whatsoever. This disease may strike the vision because of the complications it produces in absorbing vitamin A, leading to xerophthalmia, or the autoimmune attack known as Sjögren's syndrome.

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