Some older people with CD have reported experiencing symptoms during their childhood or adolescence, and went 30 or 40 years before getting sicker. On the other hand infants and young children usually become quite sick over a matter of months. The range of experience is varied. Age at onset, genetic predisposition, and severity of symptoms along with other health problems are factors in how far and how fast CD progresses. Not everyone has all the symptoms.
Symptoms can come and go.
So physical decline is not a straight downhill course, but rather a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. This makes for an emotionally difficult trip as well. If the body cannot absorb nutrients due to villi and mucosal damage, it cannot use them. They are then lost through the stool. Diarrhea may be chronic or intermittent.