Posted on: 31-05-2009 | By: Tina Turbin
Gluten intolerance and allergies affect adults and children in a variety of ways. The exact reason is still somewhat of a mystery.
Stress can play a large role in the worsening of symptoms as can emotional trauma.
How to diagnose celiac disease and gluten intolerance
Until recently it was challenging to diagnose celiac disease because the symptoms are varied and similar to other diseases. For example, Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue, iron deficiency, irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal infections can all have similar symptoms. In fact, it has been stated that there may be a crossover between gluten intolerance and some of these illnesses; an individual may have a combination of issues worsened by unsuitable food choices.
Now doctors test for raised levels of certain autoantibodies in the patient’s blood. These antibodies are produced when the body senses a dangerous intruder allergen, like gluten. If the results indicate an allergy to gluten the doctor may perform a small-intestine biopsy. This will reveal the damage to the villi in the small intestine. It is important to eat an ordinary diet, including gluten, before being tested.
If the blood test comes back negative (that you are NOT celiac), you can get an allergy test to determine if there is medical evidence of an allergy to gluten. Many people will get an ALCAT test or a number of other available allergy tests, and you can request a specific test on gluten alone through a medical doctor. Some tests are available on line.
For more information, please visit Gluten Free Help.