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How do I get tested?
Testing is simple and only requires a small sample of blood
collected by a pin-prick device.
Results are
available within 10 business days.
The test is available at
one of our clinics. A postal service is also available.
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COELIAC
SCREEN
What is Coeliac Disease?
“Coeliac disease
(Also known as Celiac) is not an
allergy or simple food intolerance. In fact it's an autoimmune disease,
where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. In people with
Coeliac disease this immune reaction is triggered by gluten, a collective
name for a type of protein found in cereals such as wheat, rye and barley.
A few people are also sensitive to oats.
In Coeliac disease, eating gluten
causes the lining of the gut (small bowel) to become damaged and may affect
other parts of the body.” Coeliac UK.
The disease is also known as
gluten intolerance and affects 1 in 300 people.
Symptoms of Coeliac
Coeliac disease has many and varied symptoms, it seems to
affects people differently. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system, or
in other parts of the body. For example, one person might have diarrhoea
and abdominal pain, while another person may be irritable or depressed. In
fact, irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children.
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Symptoms of Coeliac
disease may include one or more of the following
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Intestinal
gas and or bloating
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Unexplained
anaemia
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Missed
menstrual periods (often because of excessive weight loss)
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Abdominal
pain
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Bone
or joint pain
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Infertility,
recurrent miscarriage
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Chronic
diarrhoea or
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Osteoporosis
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Delayed
growth
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Constipation
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Behavioural
changes
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Failure
to thrive in infants
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Pale,
foul-smelling, or fatty stool
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Tingling
numbness in the legs
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Mouth
ulcers, pale sores inside the mouth,
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Weight
loss/weight gain
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Muscle
cramps
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Tooth
discoloration or loss of enamel
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Fatigue,
tired most of the time
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Seizures
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Itchy
skin rash
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A person with celiac disease may have no symptoms. People
without symptoms are still at risk for the complications of celiac disease,
including malnutrition. The longer a person goes undiagnosed and untreated,
the greater the chance of developing malnutrition and other complications.
Anaemia, delayed growth, and weight loss are signs of malnutrition: The
body is just not getting enough nutrients. Malnutrition is a serious
problem for children because they need adequate nutrition to develop
properly.
Because of the extensive range of symptoms it is difficult
to diagnose without a test. If undiagnosed patients continue to ingest
gluten, they will have an increased risk in developing gastrointestinal
tumours, so early detection is very important.
Enquires: 0800 043
1701
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