Symptoms

The symptoms of celiac disease may vary between adults and children. For babies who are mostly exposed at the age of five to six months, the first symptoms occur very clearly. Disturbances in growth and mushy, foul-smelling and unusually bulky defecations are observed. The weight loss can be seen on arms, legs and buttocks, creating a clear contrast to the bloated stomach. Loss of appetite, pallor and ill nature are other signs that may occur as effects of advancing celiac disease in the small intestine and the resulting malabsorption of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Especially long breast-fed babies may show rather uncharacteristic symptoms such as short stature, isolated anemia or tooth enamel defects.

Adults usually show more chronic and less acute symptoms. Diarrhea, weight loss and deterioration of the immune system are seen after a long time of untreated celiac disease. More often, the disease is manifested with nonspecific symptoms such as gastrointestinal discomfort or fatigue. Also, osteoporosis, joint and muscle pain, muscle cramps and the absence of menstruation of women and an increased tendency to miscarriages may point to celiac disease. Symptoms that may indicate the direct involvement of the intestine can sometimes be missing.

A celiac disease that does not show any symptoms is also called a silent or atypical celiac disease.