KUWAIT, May 24 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Celiac group revealed that there are over 8,000 people in Kuwait who suffer from celiac disease, according to studies conducted by international health agencies.
The group calls for paying more attention to this disease.
Founder of the Kuwaiti Celiac Group, Engineer Suad Al-Furaih told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) - at the conclusion of the Celiac symposium on Monday - that celiac is caused by a reaction to gliadin, a prolamin (gluten protein) found in wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt.
The disease has increased lately in Kuwait, she noticed.
Al-Furaih, who suffers from the disease herself, pointed out that the the persons who are expected to be infected with the disease are the relatives of the people who have celiac disease.
She noted the key for a "better life" is to be diagnosed early and be aware of the disease.
She renewed her call for the community to take interest in this disease, and exert all possible efforts for supporting the patients diagnosed with it. Al-Furaih said that there is a shortage of information on this disease in Arabic, as well as substitutes for wheat in the local market and decrease their costs.
Al-Furaih appealed to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to force all factories to issue a warning message on products that may cause it.
Symptoms of this disease include abdominal cramping/bloating, abdominal distention, acidosis, increased appetite, back pain, muscle cramping, constipation, decreased ability to clot blood, dehydration, diarrhea, edema, electrolyte depletion, energy loss, weight loss and fatigue.
To diagnose celiac disease, three major steps are to be taken in consideration, first, through physical examination is conducted, including a series of blood tests, that 90 percent confirm the disease. Second, a duodenal biopsy is performed with multiple samples from multiple locations in the small intestine. (end) mah.mao KUNA 241953 May 10NNNN