The presence of several key antibodies in the blood provides one important clue. The clincher is an endoscopic examination of the small intestine that reveals damage wrecked by a runaway immune system. Although celiac disease is a hereditary disorder, it can strike at any time, starting in childhood. There's progressively more diarrhea, and you'll notice that the growth rate starts to slow. Other peaks occur just before puberty and in the 40s.
Adults often exhibit a much wider range of symptoms.
They may or may not have diarrhea. Frequently they become anemic, because their intestine can't absorb much iron. Complicating the diagnosis is the fact that many symptoms of celiac disease are seen in other illnesses, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis or intestinal infections. If you are found to suffer from gluten sensitivity, you'll soon discover that it's difficult to adopt a gluten-free diet. The protein is widely used as a thickener in soups, canned vegetables and other processed foods and often contaminates products made with oats.