Coeliac Disease is sometimes misdiagnosed as Diverticulitis

It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Diverticulitis, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Coeliac Disease.

Celiac disease is a manageable chronic condition that usually responds to treatment and lifestyle changes. The main treatment option ids to avoid any gluten in the diet. Diagnosis is by a blood test that measures antibody levels in the body in response to gluten. A patient can not have the test if he/she is on a gluten free diet. If the results show antibody presence in the blood, an endoscopy is required to assess the damage to the intestines.

Always consult your doctor or health professional, and do not self diagnose.

Symptoms can include:

Pain or discomfort in belly, diarrhoea or constipation, fatty stools, nausea, vomiting, passing wind, weight loss or gain, feeling tired always, irritability and depression, bone or joint pain and stiffness, swelling of the mouth or tongue, itchy and blistery skin rash, easy bruising, recurring mouth ulcers, anaemia, dental problems, developmental delay or delayed puberty in children

Symptoms are a guideline only and may apply to either the diagnosis or the reported misdiagnosis, or both. Consult your specialist for further information.

Further reference:

www.healthdirect.gov.au

Click here to go to the A-Z list of diagnoses and misdiagnoses.