BETHESDA, Md., June 30 (UPI) -- Celiac disease may affect 3 million Americans, a U.S. panel said Wednesday, 10 times more than previous estimates of a condition once considered rare.
A consensus panel assembled by the National Institutes of Health said the disease -- which is a lifelong digestive disorder caused by an immune response to gluten in certain common grains -- is considerably under-diagnosed and is present in up to 1 percent of the U.S. population.
"Because the disease has been thought to be rare, testing for it may not occur to many physicians," Dr. Charles Elson, chair of the panel, said in a statement. "We hope that this conference will help to increase physician awareness."
A gluten-free diet is a very effective treatment but if physicians don't make a diagnosis many patients could suffer needlessly, Elson said.
The panel identified six elements vital to treating celiac disease after diagnosis, including consultation with a dietitian, education, adherence to a gluten-free diet, access to an advocacy group and continuous follow-up.
