digestive disorders
Celiac Disease
Treatment of Celiac Disease
Gluten-free diet Vitamin and mineral supplements People with celiac disease must exclude all gluten from their diet because eating even small amounts may cause symptoms. The response to a gluten-free diet is usually rapid, and symptoms resolve in 1 to 2 weeks. Once gluten is avoided, the brushlike surface of the small intestine and its absorptive function return to normal. Gluten is so widely used in food products that people with celiac disease need detailed lists of foods to be avoided and expert advice from a dietitian. Gluten is present, for example, in commercial soups, sauces, ice cream, and hot dogs. Doctors encourage people to consult a dietitian and join a More Information . Doctors give most people with celiac disease supplements to replace vitamins (such as folate) and minerals (such as iron). Another biopsy is done 3 to 6 months after a gluten-free diet has been started. Sometimes children are seriously ill when first diagnosed and need a period of Intravenous Feeding before starting a gluten-free diet. Some people continue to have symptoms even when gluten is avoided. In such people, either the diagnosis is incorrect or the disease has progressed to a condition calledrefractory celiac disease. In refractory celiac disease, treatment with corticosteroids, such asprednisone, may help. 