Celiac disease, as described in the Nursing Care Plan (NCP) from nursing.com, is an autoimmune disorder that leads to a negative reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. This reaction causes the immune system to treat gluten as a foreign invader, leading to attacks on the small intestine. The resulting inflammation damages the small intestine and hampers nutrient absorption. Common symptoms include abdominal distention, malabsorption, steatorrhea (fatty or foul-smelling stool), and anemia. A serious and potentially life-threatening complication of celiac disease is celiac crisis, which can result from fasting, ingestion of gluten, infection, and other triggers, leading to severe diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances, and metabolic acidosis.
Celiac disease is typically diagnosed in early childhood, between ages 1 and 5, often when solid foods containing gluten are introduced into a child's diet. Since patients with celiac disease cannot digest and process gluten, consuming it can trigger symptoms. The disease leads to an intolerance to gluten, and the only current treatment is a strict gluten-free diet. Signs of malnutrition, such as muscle wasting, weight loss, growth delay, and behavioral changes like irritability and apathy, are also associated with celiac disease.
This nursing cheat sheet can help you learn more about the pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and management of celiac disease, emphasizing the importance of early recognition and dietary modification to manage this chronic condition effectively.
