Coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy and nontropical sprue which affects approximately one in 70 Australians. Coeliac disease usually present between the ages of 10 and 40 years. Children with life-threatening malabsorption from coeliac disease are rarer nowadays due to longer periods of breast-feeding and the later introduction of gluten in the infant diet. Foods thats contain gluten caused damage to lining of small intestine and impair absorption of nutrients. This leads to malnutrition, osteoporosis, depression, infertility, iron deficiency anaemia and small increased risk of lymphoma of bowel. It also can cause skin rash such as dermatitis herpertiformis. Coeliac disease is closely associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus and polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type III (autoimmune thyroiditis).
Foods that contain gluten are as follows:
- Barley
- Rye
- Oats - consumption should be limited to 50 to 60g/day in mild disease or those in remission. Patients with severe coeliac disease should avoid oats altogether
- Wheat
Many patients with coeliac disease can have secondary lactose intolerance.
Body mass index calculator
Paediatric dose calculator
Achalasia
Achalasia is motility disorder of esophagus. Achalasia is a rare disorder affecting about 1.6 per 100,000 individuals. Both men and women are equally affected. The disease usually occurs between the ages of 25 and 60 years. The primary cause of Achalasia is unknown. Secondary cause of Achalasia can be due to Chagas disease caused by protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma Cruzi which occurs predominantly in Central and South America.