Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease to which some people have a genetic predisposition too. It involves the small intestine and usually causes issues with the digestive process, although it can cause a wide range of symptoms. People with celiac disease have an intolerance to gliadin, a gluten protein that is in a wide variety of grains including wheat, barley, rye, and some oats. Unfortunately, the symptoms are hard to recognize and may be confused with other, less serious conditions such as IBS. If not managed appropriately, celiac disease makes the body vulnerable to other diseases such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, epilepsy, migraines, and in extreme cases, intestinal cancer. There is no cure for celiac disease; the only way to manage the condition is to adopt a gluten-free diet.
Symptom #1: Steatorrhea
Steatorrhea is a term that describes the presence of an excessive amount of fat in the feces causing stools to be bulky and hard to flush (floats). It also looks pale and appears to be oily. These stools also smell foul. In patients with steatorrhea, some may experience oily anal leakage or fecal incontinence. The increased fat excretion can be measured by determining the level of fecal fat.
Steatorrhea can be caused by many conditions such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, poor digestion due to lack of lipases, loss of bile salts, conditions with intestinal malabsorption (such as celiac disease), and more.
