What Are The Signs & Symptoms?

Signs and symptoms are numerous and vary from person to person.

Few people suffer from “classic” intestinal symptoms.

Some people may have a few symptoms whilst others may have many.

It is also possible to have no symptoms but still have damage to the intestinal lining from gluten intolerance.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a skin condition that presents as a rash of little blisters on certain areas of the body, usually on the knees, elbows and buttocks.
It can also present on the back, sacrum, face, trunk, and inside the mouth.
Sensitivity to gluten can bring on the rash and the digestive system may also be affected, resulting in a form of coeliac disease.

Although rare, DH can continue to present itself even after years on a gluten free diet.

Signs & symptoms:

•    Fatigue, lethargy and weakness
•    Headaches
•    Flatulence and abdominal distension, bloating
•    Altered mental alertness
•    Anaemia – iron or folic acid deficiency, sometimes only appearing in pregnancy
•    Intestinal upsets, pain, colicky
•    Cramping and bloating
•    Constipation
•    Diarrhoea
•    Pale, bulky, foul-smelling stools
•    Nausea and vomiting
•    Weight loss (although this is not always a symptom)
•    Irritability
•    Easy bruising of the skin
•    Cancer (gastrointestinal carcinoma or lymphoma)
•    Dental defects
•    Mouth ulcers
•    Oral swelling
•    Skin rashes (Dermatitis herpetiformis)
•    Osteoporosis, bone pains and fractures
•    Low blood calcium and magnesium levels with muscle cramps and spasms
•    Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, Vitamin B12, A, D, E and K, folic acid, calcium and iron
•    Delayed puberty
•    Miscarriages or infertility
•    Reduction in sperm counts in men
•    Early menopause
•    Muscle aches – myopathy