The students of Ibn Sina university for medical sciences in Jeddah worked on an amazing initiative to raise awareness on Celiac disease and set up a booth in Red Sea Mall for the public to come and learn more about it and learn how to avoid it.
Celiac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you consume gluten. This damages your gut making it difficult to take in nutrients from consumed food. Celiac disease can cause a range of symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating.
Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Chronic or recurring diarrhea
- Flatulence, abdominal bloating, and pain
- Nausea/vomiting
- Lack of appetite
- Constipation (rarely)
Malabsorption symptoms: fatigue, weight loss, vitamin deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, hypocalcemia
In children: failure to thrive, growth failure, delayed puberty
Celiac disease, is a common condition characterized by a maladaptive immune response to gluten, a protein found in many grains. The disease often occurs in patients with other autoimmune illnesses, as both are associated with HLA variants, which causes pathologically increased immune responses.
How do Celiac patients know that the food contains gluten?
First, they should be looking for the “gluten free” sign on the products. If the product doesn’t specify, they can read the ingredients used to make the product and not purchase it if it contains elements that contain gluten. Some products will have specific signs that says “sustainable for Celiac patients” which is a great indicator. Finally, if none of the above apply, and there is no guarantee of a gluten free ingredients, “if in doubt, go without.”
The government preserved the right of the citizen with Celiac disease and provided them with support by providing gluten-free products, and this through the Ministry of Health where there’s an insurance program for patients with wheat allergy. It was approved for disbursement through thirty-one hospitals.
Awareness on Celiac disease is crucial in our community since a lot of the cuisines of the world include glutenous ingredients that can be difficult to digest by Celiacpatients
