Syptoms can be any of the following, and usually there are multiple symptoms in families, as it is an hereditary condition:
- Upper respiratory complaints such as sinusitis, allergies, asthma, bronchitis.
- Headaches and migraine.
- Malabsorption of nutrients leading to anaemia, osteoporosis, fatigue, skin complaints, mouth ulcers, dental enamel abnormalities, muscle cramps, underweight, anorexia, overweight, obesity, infertility, irritability, thyroid imbalances, gall bladder problems.
- Bowel complaints: constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, spastic colon, stomach or duodenal ulcers, IBS, lactose or sucrose intolerance, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis,
- Cancer of the organs of digestion, lymphoma.
- Autoimmune system disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, insulin dependent diabetes type 1 (mellitus), sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, pernicious anaemia, scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, Addison's disease, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosis, thyroid disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, recurrent pericarditis and kidney disease such as IgA nephritis or glomerulonephritis.
- Disorders of the nervous system, such as motor neurone disease, epilepsy, cerebral calcifications, ataxia, tingling and numbness in extremities.
- Problems affecting the mind: behavioural problems in children, hyperactivity, ADD, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia.
- Genetic disorders: Down's syndrome, amongst others.
- Skin disorders especially Dematitis Herpetiformis.
What tests are available
IgA antibody test for gliadin or gluten
- IgG antibody test for gliadin or gluten
- IgA – AEA anti-endomysial antibody test for gluten
- TtG – Tissue transglutaminase AUTO antibody test for gluten
These tests are all available in South Africa and are payable by all medical aid societies.
Further, a small bowel tissue biopsy is necessary to establish the damage to the villi. These are microscopic finger-like projections in the upper 2/5 of the small intestine, which includes the duodenum and jejunum. They shrink or are flattened in an autoimmune reaction caused by the gliadin fraction of the gluten molecule.