Coeliac disease diagnosis quadrupled in 20 years

Anne Smith, from East Leake in Nottinghamshire suffers from coeliac disease, and says before she was diagnosed correctly, she was seriously ill.

Experts at the University of Nottinghamshire have found that the number of people with the disease have quadrupled in the last 20 years. But they believe the rise is due to better medical practices now correctly diagnosing it.

Anne Smith says doctors initially thought she had Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have found that the number of people with coeliac disease has quadrupled in the last 20 years.

They believe that may be down to better medical practice correctly diagnosing the condition. But what are the symptoms? They range from mild to severe and can include:

• Bloating
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Wind
• Constipation
• Tiredness
• Headaches
• Mouth ulcers
• Sudden or unexpected weight loss (not in all cases)
• Hair loss
• Anaemia

For more information about the disease, visit the Coeliac UK website.

A coeliac disease sufferer says she has to check every label on food, so she does not eat 'poison' that causes her a lot of pain.

Anne Smith, from East Leake in Nottinghamshire, has the condition which means she cannot eat gluten.

Experts at the University of Nottingham have found that the number of people with the disease has quadrupled over the last two decades.

Experts at the University of Nottingham have found that there are four times more people with coeliac disease than there were 20 years ago, but believe that increase is down to better diagnosis procedures.

Dr Joe West says the tests to make the diagnosis are more available, safer, easier to do and more accessible.

The number of people being diagnosed with coeliac disease has quadrupled over the last 20 years, according to new research from the University of Nottingham.

The condition means sufferers are unable to eat products containing gluten without feeling unwell. It is found in wheat, barley and rye.

Experts believe the increase is due to better diagnosis, rather than more people developing the condition.