Spreading awareness on celiac disease

To create public awareness about celiac disease, Celiac Day was observed by the Celiac Support Organisation (CSO) at Maulana Azad Medical College here on Saturday. Experts from major Delhi hospitals along with more than 200 celiac disease patients and their families turned up at the college.
Speaking on the occasion, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India chairman Chandramouli said since the celiac disease is not as well understood, awareness regarding its signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment needs to be increased. “This meet is a step forward to help people know all about the disease.”
Noting that his organisation needs to work in collaboration with governments, policy-makers and industry representatives for easy and low-cost diagnostic tools, CSO president Mittal said: “We need to provide streamlined channels for endoscopy along with addressing the issue of food labelling with the Union Government and food industry.”
Stressing the importance of adhering to gluten-free foods,G. B. Pant Hospital Professor and Department of Gastroenterology head A. S. Puri said there was no specific drug treatment for celiac disease. “Avoidance of wheat has not only to be total but also lifelong.”
According to CSO Secretary-General Sushma Narayan, in India, where wheat is consumed by a vast majority in some form or the other, thousands of children and adults with celiac disease continue to suffer under-diagnosed, untreated and uncared for.
According to CSO, celiac disease is a type of food allergy where individuals are intolerant to gluten, a protein found in wheat and related cereals. It is a lifelong disease but a treatable condition where individuals who stay off all forms of gluten in their diet become asymptomatic with little or no long-term consequences.