National Celiac Disease Awareness Day: 15 Facts About The Condition

National Celiac Disease Awareness Day is celebrated on Sept. 13 as on this day in 1839 Dr. Samuel Gee, considered to be a leader in celiac disease research, was born. The day is commemorated to raise awareness about the condition that afflicts millions of people worldwide.

Celiac disease is a chronic and genetic autoimmune disorder that can damage the small intestine. This is because the body's immune system, which typically protects the body from invaders, attacks the lining of the intestine when the person with the condition consumes food with the protein gluten, Cleveland Clinic explained.

Gluten can typically be found in grains such as barley, rye and wheat, and people with the condition may experience symptoms such as bloating, anemia, growth issues and diarrhea when they eat food with it. As a multisystem disorder, celiac disease can affect several organs.

Although millions of people are affected by the condition, there are still many things that people don't know about it.

On this day, let's look at some important facts about celiac disease. (Courtesy: Celiac Disease Foundation, Beyond Celiac, Rush University Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health)

1. As a chronic disease, celiac disease is not something someone can "grow out of."
2. Many people with celiac disease haven't been diagnosed, but experts estimate that about two million people in the U.S. have it. It's estimated that 1% of people worldwide are affected by it.
3. People who have family members with celiac disease are more likely to develop it as well.
4. Up to 83% of Americans with celiac disease are not diagnosed.
5. Celiac disease is also called celiac sprue, gluten-sensitive enteropathy or nontropical sprue.
6. Celiac disease is different from gluten sensitivity. Although the symptoms may be similar, such as diarrhea and bloating, it is only those with celiac disease who have their immune systems disrupt the absorption of nutrients.
7. The condition is also different from a wheat allergy, which has different symptoms and does not cause "long-term damage" to the small intestine.
8. There is no cure for celiac disease. The only treatment so far is having a 100% gluten-free diet.
9. Celiac disease can be developed at any age once a person starts eating food or even medications with gluten.
10. People of all ages can be affected by the celiac disease "in all parts of the world." In the U.S., however, it is said to be more common among white Americans than other groups, the NIH noted.
11. Diagnosing celiac disease may consist of an endoscopy and a blood test.
12. Symptoms of celiac disease can vary "widely," with some experiencing one or a mix of the hundreds of symptoms linked to the disease.
13. Celiac disease can lead to health problems and disorders such as reduced bone density, infertility, some cancers and other autoimmune diseases without a timely diagnosis.
14. Some 20% of people with the condition are asymptomatic, but they are still at risk for long-term complications.
15. Analysis has shown that the prevalence of celiac disease is increasing "beyond diagnostic improvements, most likely due to environmental factors."