The symptoms of celiac disease (CD) vary so widely among patients that there is no such thing as a "typical celiac." The amount of intestinal damage that has occurred and the length of time nutrient absorption has been abnormal seem to be the factors that determine the type and severity of symptoms experienced. It is interesting to note that some people with CD report no symptoms at all.

"Celiac disease is one of the great mimics in gastroenterology in particular and medicine in general. Of 100 patients with CD, just over 10 percent present with classical overt symptoms of malabsorption such as weight loss, diarrhea and nutritional deficiencies. About 10 percent are incorrectly diagnosed for some length of time, in some cases years. Forty percent present in an atypical manner, which leads to lengthy delay in diagnosis. About 33 percent of patients have clinically silent disease and 7 percent have latent CD (no symptoms or small bowel lesion but will develop CD later, or had disease at an early age and resolved)." C. Robert Dahl, MD, "Celiac Disease: The Great Mimic Presentation," CSA Annual Conference, September 2000.

A.   The Patient's Physical State
What are the symptoms? How long have they been present? How often do they occur?

B.   The Patient's Emotional State
What is the patient's emotional state? Is it consistent throughout the day? When and for how long do the symptoms occur?

C.   Additional Conditions
What else is involved? Other diseases? Other organs?