Celiac Disease, which affects approximately one in 200 people in Turkey, is a lifelong disease that develops in genetically predisposed people against the protein called gluten in wheat, barley, rye and oats. The disease is autoimmune, that is, it is caused by the body recognizing some kind of foreign substance in its own tissues and organs and causing damage. As a result of the damage, the brush-like structures that enable the absorption of food in our small intestines are damaged. Although it can be seen at any age, it is most commonly diagnosed between childhood and 30-40 years of age. Although it is seen around 0.6-1% all over the world, in a recent screening study conducted in Turkey, its frequency was found to be 1/212 in healthy school-age children. The disease can occur in a wide range of cases. It can be compared to an iceberg. While the disease, which presents with typical symptoms such as abdominal pain, long-lasting diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, occupies a small place at the top of the iceberg, short stature, anemia, infertility, and silent and hidden celiac disease diagnosed incidentally in blood tests constitute a larger group. Celiac Disease is thought to begin with the introduction of grains into people's diets. Findings related to this disease were found in the ruins of Konya Çatalhöyük, the oldest known agricultural community settlement. Environmental and genetic factors are important in the development of the disease. Unless gluten is included in the diet, the disease does not occur.
Cereals containing gluten; wheat, barley, rye. The toxic effect of oats is controversial. The duration of exposure to gluten is directly proportional to the disease onset and development process. Prolonged breastfeeding and introducing complementary foods while breastfeeding have been found beneficial in many studies. The recommended breast milk for today is ideally to be given for a long time and to be breastfed on the 4th-7th day. Starting to consume grain supplements containing gluten between months. Genetic predisposition is very important. Studies have shown that the frequency of the disease is higher in first-degree relatives of celiac patients and in identical twins. Therefore, it is recommended that first-degree relatives of patients be screened. Complaints and findings of celiac patients may be different and variable from patient to patient. Long-term diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, developmental delay, short stature, muscle weakness, restlessness, weight loss, sores in the mouth, weakness, fatigue, osteoporosis, tooth enamel disorders, skin rashes, delayed puberty, Many different complaints and findings may be observed, such as menstrual irregularities and amenorrhoea, infertility, weakness and disorders in the heart muscle, elevation in liver tests, depression, epilepsy (epilepsy).
Apart from these, a healthy person may be diagnosed with the disease accidentally while being scanned. There are also silent celiac patients who are diagnosed with celiac disease. Silent celiac patients are approximately 7 times more common than typical patients. To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to first consider the disease. First, special celiac tests (measurement of antibody levels) are performed in the blood. In patients with positive tests, the gold standard for diagnosis is small bowel biopsy with endoscopy. The basic principle of treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet. You should not consume any food made from wheat, barley, rye and oats, which contain gluten. Even 50 mg of gluten a day can cause disease. It is both difficult and expensive to reach gluten-free products, especially in grain-based societies such as our country. It is very difficult for patients and their relatives to stay away from these products for a lifetime. Therefore, psychological support to these patients is an important part of the treatment. Patients can easily and safely eat rice, corn, legumes, meat, fish, eggs, potatoes, soybeans, fruits and vegetables. Although some drug and vaccine studies have been tried in treatment, they have not yet been found effective. Bioenergy, ozone therapy and other alternative medicine techniques have absolutely no place in treatment.
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