Celiac disease is specifically triggered by the wheat protein gluten.
Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health
What Is Crohns Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a form ofinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health
It is considered an autoimmune condition.
The resulting attack causes inflammation and damage to the intestinal wall.
It can also cause ulceration (open sores) and thickening of the intestinal wall.
Men and women are equally likely to have the disease.
Each person with Crohn’s may experience different symptoms.
Crohn’s is a chronic condition.
The majority of people with the disease will experience periods of remission when symptoms aren’t as noticeable.
They’ll also experience periods calledflareswhen their symptoms are active.
Commonsymptomsinclude:
Those with Crohn’s disease may also experience complications due to their condition.
These include:
What Is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system overreacts to the protein gluten.
Celiac disease can run in families.
Those with a first-degree relative with celiac disease have a one in 10 chance of also developing celiac disease.
The condition can occur at any age.
Symptoms of Celiac Disease
People with celiac disease may experience differentsymptoms.
There are more than 200 possible symptoms of celiac disease.
The symptoms of celiac disease vary between adults and children.
To a lesser extent, those with Crohn’s are also more likely to have or develop celiac.
In particular, the conditions have two distinctly different triggers, which means they need to be treated differently.
Typically, celiac disease symptoms disappear entirely within a few months if you completely avoid gluten.
For those with Crohn’s disease, symptoms may flare up at different times, even with treatment.
Diagnosis
Both Crohn’s and celiac disease have symptoms that may be similar to other conditions.
Diagnosing Crohn’s
There’s no single test that can be used to diagnose Crohn’s disease.
A healthcare provider will take a medical history and use the results of medical tests to make a diagnosis.
People who have celiac disease and also eat gluten have high levels of specific antibodies in their blood.
The immune system produces these antibodies in response to gluten, which it views as a threat.
Summary
Crohn’s and celiac disease are two different autoimmune conditions that attack the gastrointestinal tract.
There are ways to manage both diseases before they cause severe problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Those with celiac disease must follow a lifelong gluten-free diet.
Naturally gluten-free foods include fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy.
There is no single diet that works for everyone with Crohn’s disease.
Your healthcare provider may recommend that you try anelimination dietto see if that helps your symptoms.
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