Coeliac disease (pronounced see-lee-yak) is a auto-immune disease causing some adults and children to react to the gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye.Gluten is in bread, biscuits, cakes, pasta, beer, pizza and in many manufactured foods where gluten is contained in the ingredients such as soups, sauces, gravy, salad dressings, crisps, chocolate, sweets and ready-meals.
Some people with coeliac disease are also sensitive to the protein found in oats. If a person with coeliac disease eats gluten, the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, reducing their ability to absorb the nutrients from food. This can lead to various symptoms and complications, if undiagnosed.
Even a grain of gluten can cause harm and cause diarrhoea and other symptoms which can last for several days.