Why is Celiacs concidered a disease and not a food allergy?

Eli Trapeni: I did not know the answer to that either, thanks for the info.

Lucrecia Laurito: A food allergy triggers histamines and reactions to the food just like any other allergy. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where the body starts attacking itself. CD is the only autoimmune disease that I know of that the trigger is actually known and that trigger is gluten contained in wheat barley or rye. The body starts attacking the gastrointestinal tract especially the villi in the small intestine. That is a short version, you can look at some of the references and really get some detailed info if you want....Show more

Keven Woodington: When gluten is eaten, the protein breaks down into smaller pieces called polypeptides. These are not totally digested into amino acids like in a non-Celiac and these polypeptides confuse the immune system, which attacks them and in the process destroys the villi that normally help absorb food. So the person gets weird sy! mptoms, like osteoporosis from lack of Calcium absorption, or a characteristic skin rash from the immune system beginning to attack the skin proteins, or maybe no symptoms. So it is more complex than an allergy....Show more

Hermina Ketring: Celiac disease and wheat allergy are two distinct conditions. Celiac disease, or "celiac sprue," is a permanent adverse reaction to gluten. Those with celiac disease will not lose their sensitivity to this substance. This disease requires a lifelong restriction of gluten. Wheat-allergic people have an IgE-mediated response to wheat protein. These individuals must only avoid wheat. Most wheat-allergic children outgrow the allergy....Show more

Willis Liburd: It is the inability of the mucosa of the intestines to absorb glutens.It does not cause an allergy

Pearlie Medora: These are great answers, thank you for the info...I was wondering this too.

Reginald Maxi: I think it is because Celiac disease is a digestive prob! lem, the bodies inability to digest certain things. An allerg! y is when your body is fighting something off.