Coeliac UK Advice
About Coeliac UK
Coeliac UK is the national charity for people with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH). Our mission is to improve the lives of people with coeliac disease through support, campaigning and research.
We support people with coeliac disease and DH by:
- providing expert and independent information to help people manage their health and diet
- campaigning on their behalf to improve access to fast diagnosis, good medical treatment and safe foods - in the home and out
- and researching new treatments and the possibilities of a cure.
What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease (pronounced ‘see-liac’ spelt celiac disease in other countries) is a serious illness where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues when gluten is eaten. This causes damage to the lining of the gut and means that the body cannot properly absorb nutrients from food. It is not an allergy or simple food intolerance. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Some people may also be sensitive to oats.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of coeliac disease vary from person to person and can range from very mild to severe.
Possible symptoms may include:
- diarrhoea, excessive wind, and/or constipation
- persistent or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting
- recurrent stomach pain, cramping or bloating
- any combination of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency
- tiredness and/or headaches
- weight loss (but not in all cases)
- mouth ulcers
- hair loss (alopecia)
- skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis (DH))
- tooth enamel problems
- osteoporosis
- depression
- infertility
- repeated miscarriages
- joint and/or bone pain
- neurological (nerve) problems such as ataxia (poor muscle co-ordination) and neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet)
In babies, symptoms may develop after weaning onto cereals which contain gluten.
Other symptoms in young children include:
- muscle wasting in the arms and legs
- bloated tummy
- irritability
- failure to gain weight or lose weight after previously growing well
Common confusion
Some symptoms may be mistaken as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or wheat intolerance. Stress or getting older can also be a cause of confusion.
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be underweight or have lost weight to have coeliac disease. Most people are of normal weight or even overweight at diagnosis.
What to do if you think you might have coeliac disease
If you think you or your child has coeliac disease, you must keep eating gluten and speak to your GP for advice. You can read about the diagnosis process on our How to get diagnosed page.
Contact Coeliac UK for more information
You can contact one of our dietitians by email through our website, or call the Coeliac UK Helpline; 0845 305 2060 (Open 10am-4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 11am-4pm on Wednesday).
If you, or your child, are medically diagnosed with coeliac disease or DH, you can join Coeliac UK as a Member. A parent/carer of a child under 16 with coeliac disease can join as a Member on their behalf. As a Member you can receive invaluable help and information about managing a gluten-free diet.
Some of our Member benefits include:
- Food and Drink Directory- book listing around 10,000 products you can eat
- Crossed Grain Magazine - our magazine, issued three times a year
- Diet and Health Helpline - call our expert team of dietitians and food advisers on 0845 305 2060
- Local Voluntary Support Groups - meet up with other Members in your area
- Other publications - information sheets and booklets to help you manage your condition and diet available in the Members section of our website
- Online services such as eXG, our monthly electronic newsletter, our Venue Guide, recipe database and electronic Food and Drink Directory
For more information about becoming a Member please visit our joining page.
