-Boyfriend

Celiac disease is a lifelong intestinal malabsorption disorder that is caused by an intolerance to the gluten protein found in wheat, oats, barley, and rye. When gluten in consumed by someone with this condition, s/he will develop diarrhea or steatorrhea, which is diarrhea with fat in it. This digestive disorder is hereditary, may present at any age, and adults may have no knowledge of childhood disease.

Symptoms of celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or gluten intolerance, may include:

• anemia
• non-voluntary weight loss
• bone pain
• skin disorders
• diarrhea
• abdominal discomfort and bloating

You may want to talk with your girlfriend about this answer, or both of you could visit her health care provider and a registered dietitian to learn more. The dietitian can help your girlfriend identify gluten in foods and plan a gluten free eating plan to help her manage her condition. For additional information about celiac disease, you can check out the following resources:

Celiac Disease Foundation

MedLinePlus: Celiac Disease

Alice

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