Celiac Disease

Overview

1. Intolerance to gluten (protein found in wheat, barley, oats, rye)

Nursing Points

General

1. Only treatment is gluten-free diet
2. Villi do not absorb nutrients

Assessment

1. Diarrhea
2. Abdominal distention
3. Malabsorption
4. Steatorrhea (fatty/foul smelling stool)
5. Anemia
6. Celiac Crisis
   1. Rare and life threatening complication of celiac disease
   2. Results from fasting, ingestion of gluten, gluten challenge, infection
   3. Causes severe diarrhea, electrolyte abnormalities, and metabolic acidosis

Therapeutic Management

1. Only effective treatment is strict lifelong gluten-free diet
2. Glucocorticoids and volume replacement required

Nursing Concepts

1. Gastrointestinal/Liver Metabolism
2. Elimination
3. Nutrition

Patient Education

1. Foods that include gluten
2. Notify provider of bloody stools