Could My Symptoms Be Related to Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity?

It is a common question people ask in the face of a bewildering array of possible celiac disease and gluten sensitivity symptoms. This Gluten Free Works Symptom Guide will help you identify possible symptoms and health problems that you can present to your doctor.

Here is the list of over 300 Signs, Symptoms, Associated Disorders and Complications directly or indirectly resulting from celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

We were the first to present this information in our comprehensive celiac disease reference, “Recognizing Celiac Disease.” This list is now being used by celiac disease centers, national celiac organizations and health organizations worldwide.

Are you looking for in-depth information about each of these symptoms and how to treat them? Visit our Gluten Free Works Treatment Guide where each symptom is explained and a step-by-step process is provided to correct or improve it.

Abnormal levels of blood components and quality of blood cells and plasma, detected by blood studies ordered by a doctor.

Anemia, Folic acid

Anemia, Iron

Anemia, Vitamin B12

Anti-Endomysium Antibodies (EMA)

Anti-Gliadin Antibodies (AGA)

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies (tTG)

Associated Autoimmune Antibodies

Bone Alkaline Phosphatase Enzyme, Elevated

Calcium, Low

Cholesterol, Low (below 156)

Coagulation Factors, Low

Copper, Low

Hemochromatosis

Glucose, Low or elevated

Homocysteine, Elevated

Hyperprolactinemia (elevated prolactin hormone)

Hypoprothrombinemia

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Liver Enzymes, Elevated

Macroamylasemia

Macrocytosis

Macrolipasemia

Magnesium, Low

Neutropenia

Phosphorus, Low

Plasma Proteins, Low

Potassium, Low

Prolonged Prothrombin Time

Transient Erythroblastopenia

Zinc, Low

Disorders of the body as a whole.

Anorexia (Poor appetite)

Appetite, Increased

Cachexia (Wasting of the body)

Loss of Vitality

Obesity

Weight Gain, Unexplained

Weight Loss, Unexplained

Disorders of the heart and blood vessels.

Angina Pectoris

Aortic Vasculitis

Atherosclerosis

Cardiomegaly

Coronary Artery Disease

Easy Bruising (Ecchymosis)

Hypertension

Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Nosebleeds, Unexplained

The following symptoms in this section may be present alone or in any combination in celiac disease. They result from inflammation, damage,and interference with normal function caused by gluten exposure in the digestive tract itself and/or nutritional deficiencies. As you see, problems can develop not only in the small intestine where inflammation can be intense, but also in other areas such as mucosal tissues of the mouth, esophagus, stomach and colon.

Abdominal Distention (Bloating)

Abdominal Pain

Adenocarcinoma of the Small Intestine

Aphthous Ulcers (Canker sores in mouth)

Autoimmune Cholangitis

Beta Casein Enteropathy (Cow’s dairy intolerance similar to celiac disease)

Bleeding, Unexplained

Cancer of the Esophagus

Cancer of the Pharynx

Candida Infections

Carbohydrate Malabsorption

Cheilosis (Red lips, cracking/ oozing at corners of mouth)

Colitis, Collagenous

Colitis, Lymphocytic

Colitis, Ulcerative

Colonic Volvulus (Loop of intestine twists causing strangulation of intestine)

Constipation

Constipation Alternating with Diarrhea

Crohn’s Disease

Defective Tooth Enamel (Yellow, white spots, missing enamel)

Delayed Gastric Emptying (Early fullness after eating)

Diarrhea, acute (Also called celiac crisis)

Diarrhea, chronic

Duodenal Erosions in the Second Part of Duodenum (Small ulcers)

Dysphagia (Difficulty swallowing)

Edema of Small Intestinal Lining

Esophageal Small Cell Cancer

Esophageal Motor Abnormalities (Poor muscle activity/coordination)

Gas

Gastric Ulcer (Stomach ulcers)

Gastric Ulcerations

Gastritis, Collagenous

Gastritis, Lymphocytic

Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastro-Intestinal Occult Bleeding (Blood in stool that is not visible to naked eye)

Gluten Sensitive Enteritis

Gums bleeding/ swollen (Purplish in adults/ red in children)

Heartburn

H. Pylori Bacter (Infection of the stomach)

Impaired Gall Bladder Motility

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Jejunitis, chronic

Lactose Intolerance (Gas, bloating, loose stools from milk)

Laryngospasm

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Lymphoma

Malabsorption of Nutrients

Maltose Intolerance (Gas, bloating, loose stools from maltose, a simple carbohydrate)

Nausea

Oral Mucosal Lesions (Mouth lesions)

Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

Post-cricoid Cancer

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (Bile backs up in liver)

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (Scarring of bile ducts in liver)

Small Bowel Intussusception (One loop of intestine slips into another)

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Steatorrhea (Pale, smelly, floating stool hard to flush or sticks to toilet)

Sucrose Intolerance (Gas, bloating, mucous in stool from sugar)

Tongue (Beefy, red, smooth, burning)

Tongue (Fiery red, smooth, swollen, sore)

Tongue (Magenta, swollen)

Tongue (Pale, smooth, burning)

Vomiting

Disorders of the glands.

Addison’s Disease (Adrenal gland failure)

Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hypothyroidism)

Diabetes Mellitus Type I

Diabetic Instability

Gastro-Intestinal Complications of Type 1 Diabetes

Grave’s Disease (Hyperthyroidism)

Hepatic Granulomatous Disease

Idiopathic Hypoparathyroidism

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Pancreatic Insufficiency

Parathyroid Carcinoma

Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Secondary Hypoparathyroidism

Disorders of antibody production.

Allergic Rhinitis

Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Asthma

Autoimmune Disorders in Celiac Disease

Autoimmune Disorders in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndromes

Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Food Allergies, IgE and non-IgE Immune Responses

IgA Deficiency

Sarcoidosis

Sjögrens Syndrome

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Urticaria, chronic (Hives)

Disorders of skin, hair, and nails.

Alopecia Areata (Patches of hair loss)

Alopecia, Diffuse (Balding)

Cutaneous Vasculitis

Cutis Laxa

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Dermatomyositis

Eczema

Edema (Swelling)

Eythema Elevatum Diutinum

Erythema Nodosum

Follicular Hyperkeratosis (Dry rough skin/ plugged hair follicles on body)

Ichthyosis, Acquired

Itchy Skin Rash

Hangnail

Koilonychia (Thin nails that flatten, ends progressively turning up instead of down)

Melanoma

Nails, Dry and brittle that chip, peel, crack or break easily

Nails with Horizontal and Vertical Ridges/Fragile

Nail with Rounded and Curved Down Ends, Dark, Dry

Nails with White Spots

Nails with Splinter Hemorrhages

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris

Prurigo Nodularis (Hyde’s Prurigo)

Psoriasis

Scleroderma

Seborrhea

Thin hair

Vitiligo

Disorders of the lymphocytes (white blood cells), lymph nodes and spleen.

B-cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Cryptic Intestinal T-cell Lymphoma (Refractory Sprue)

Enteropathy Associated T-cell Lymphoma (EATL)

Extraintestinal Lymphomas

Intraepithelial Lymphocytosis in Small Bowel Samples

Lymphadenopathy

Mesenteric Lymph Node Cavitation

Hyposplenism (Atrophy of spleen)

Disorders of muscle structure and function.

Hypokalemic Rhabdomyolysis (Acute, severe potassium deficiency)

Muscle Pain and Tenderness

Muscle Spasm and Cramps

Muscle Wasting

Muscle Weakness

Osteomalacic Myopathy

Polymyositis

Tetany

Disorders of nerves, brain and spinal cord structure and function.

Anxiety

Apathy

Ataxia, Gait Disturbance

Ataxia, Gluten

Ataxia, Progressive Myoclonic

Brain Atrophy

Cerebral Perfusion Abnormalities (Poor blood flow)

Chonic Fatigue Syndrome

Chorea

Cortical Calcifying Angiomatosis

Dementia

Depression

Epilepsy

Fatigue/ Lassitude

Headache

Inability to Concentrate

Insomnia

Irritability

Migraine

Multiple Sclerosis

Nervous System Disorders

Peripheral Neuropathy

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

Tremors

Vasculitis of the Central Nervous System

Disorders of lung tissue and broncheal tree structure and function.

Bronchiectasis

Bronchial Pneumonia

Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis

Increased Pulmonary Permeability

Increased Susceptibility to Tuberculosis

Lung Cavities or Abcess

Non-Response to Tuberculosis Treatment

Pneumococcal Septicemia

Disorders of sense organ structure and function.

Bitot’s Spots (Foamy patches on whites of eye)

Blepharitis

Bloodshot Eyes

Blurred Vision

Cataracts

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

Keratomalacia

Nightblindness

Ocular Myopathy

Smell, Loss of

Taste, Loss of

Uveitis, Bilateral

Xerophthalmia

Disorders of bone, joints and teeth.

Bone Fracture

Bone Pain

Enteropathic Arthritis

Osteitis Fibrosa

Osteomalacia

Osteonecrosis

Osteoporosis

Psoriatic Arthritis

Recurrent Monoarthritis

Disorders of kidneys and urinaty tract structure and function.

Hypocalciuria

IgA Nephropathy

Kidney Stones

Urinary Tract Infection

Disorders of organ structure and function.

Amenorrhea (Absence of menstrual period)

Early Menopause

Infertility

Late Menarche (Late start of menstrual periods)

Premenstrual Syndrome

Dysmenorrhea (Painful menstrual periods)

Dyspareunia (Painful intercourse)

Vaginitis

Disorders of organ structure and function.

Hypogonadism

Impotence

Infertility

Sperm Abnormalities

Disorders of childbearing.

Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy

Short Duration of Breast Feeding

Miscarriage

Complications During Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery

Complications After Childbirth

Disorders of chromosomes.

Down Syndrome

Turner’s Syndrome

Disorders of that occur before birth of the child.

Congenital Anomalies

Intrauterine Growth Retardation

Cystic Fibrosis

Spina Bifida

Disorders of children that occur after birth.

Autism and Learning Disorders

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

Cancer Predisposition in Children

Chronic Bullous Dermatosis

Delayed Puberty in Boys

Delayed Puberty in Girls

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Developmental Delay

Failure to Thrive and Growth Retardation

Fecal Occult Blood (Blood found in stool that is not visible to the naked eye)

Glycogenic Acanthosis

Hypotonia

Juvenile Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Juvenile Diabetes Type 1

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Abnormal Blood Studies

Latent Anemia in Enzymopathies of Small Intestine (Lack of enzymes produced by villi)

Penicilllin V Impaired Absorption

Refractory Anemia (Unresponsive to iron therapy)

Osteopenia

Rickets

Short Staure

Stroke in Childhood

Here are some other ways to look at various symptoms :

Aloofness

Hyperactivity

Irritability (Common in children with celiac disease)

Impatience

Lack of Desire to Get Things Done

Lack of Feeling

Restlessness

Timid Behavior

Violent Behavior

Anxiety

Apathy

Bipolar disorder

Depression

Difficulty Making Friendships

Easy Frustration and Anger

Nervousness

Panic Attacks

Sense of Worthlessness

Overly Self-critical

Hysteria

Hypochondria