Celiac disease symptoms can have an effect on the intestines, skin, joints, and more.

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Over a lifespan, celiac disease symptoms tend to shift from primarily gastrointestinal ones in children (diarrhea, bloating, pain) to “non-classical” or “subclinical” ones in adults (fatigue, anemia, arthritis, and numbness/tingling in the fingers and toes). Non-classical symptoms can make celiac disease harder to spot, particularly if a patient has other medical conditions with similar symptoms.

Jump to the full list of celiac disease symptoms

As our celiac disease symptoms list illustrates, those with the condition are more likely to be afflicted by problems relating to inflammation, malabsorption, and malnutrition, including osteoporosis, tooth enamel defects, central and peripheral nervous system disease, pancreatic disease, internal hemorrhaging, organ disorders (gall bladder, liver, and spleen) and gynecological disorders, including infertility.

Dr. Salvatore Alesci, Chief Scientist at Beyond Celiac, says that untreated celiac disease can affect people neurologically, as well. “Fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and depression are common symptoms that may persist if left untreated,” says Dr. Alesci. “Other non-classical symptoms include anemia, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, other autoimmune diseases, a specific skin manifestation called dermatitis herpetiformis, canker sores, dental defects and many more.”

Untreated celiac disease has also been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, particularly intestinal lymphoma and bowel cancer. Some people with celiac disease have no symptoms but they still can develop complications of the disease over time. Later complications can include liver disease, peripheral neuropathy, type 1 diabetes, and subsequent autoimmune disorders, according to Dr. Ellie Heintze, Naturopathic Doctor at Starting Point Acupuncture. “There is a high correlation between Hashimoto’s disease [autoimmune thyroid disease] and celiac disease,” says Dr. Heintze.

Looking for Clues

Your search for celiac disease symptoms information will bring you to any number of lists prepared by various sources. Among them is a 300-symptom list published by The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center (CDC).

The CDC adapted its list from C.J. Libonati’s book Recognizing Celiac Disease (Fort Washington, PA: Gluten Free Works Publishing; 2007). It notes that some symptoms tend to show up more than others. Besides those mentioned above, these are some of the more frequent telltale celiac symptoms:

• Digestive issues (recurring abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea or constipation;
• Vomiting
• Liver and biliary tract disorders
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Tingling numbness in the legs
• Tooth discoloration
• A skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH)
• Unexplained infertility
• Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression.

The full list goes well beyond. We’ll post it here (see below) along with the Celiac Disease Center’s disclaimer that “the list is not intended to be used as the sole basis for diagnosis.”

A-Z List of Celiac Disease SymptomsS

Symptoms of celiac disease may include one or more of the following:

A

• Abdominal Distention
• Abdominal Pain
• Abnormal Blood Studies
• Adenocarcinoma of the Small Intestine
• Addison’s Disease
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Alopecia Areata
• Alopecia, Diffuse
• Amenorrhea
• Anemia, Folic Acid
• Anemia, Iron Deficiency
• Anemia, Vitamin B12
• Angina Pectoris
• Anxiety
• Anorexia
• Anti-Endomysium Antibodies (EMA)
• Anti-Gliadin Antibodies (AGA)
• Antiphospholipid Syndrome
• Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies (tTG)
• Aortic Vasculitis
• Apathy
• Aphthous Ulcers
• Appetite, Increased
• Associated Autoimmune Antibodies
• Asthma
• Ataxia Gait Disturbance
• Ataxia, Gluten
• Ataxia, Progressive Myoclonic
• Atherosclerosis
• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
• Autism and Learning Disorders
• Autoimmune Cholangitis
• Autoimmune Disorders in Celiac Disease
• Autoimmune Disorders in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
• Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndromes
• Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hypothyroidism)

B

• B-cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Beta Casein Enteropathy
• Bitot’s Spots
• Bleeding, Unexplained
• Blepharitis
• Bloodshot Eyes
• Blurred Vision
• Bone Alkaline Phosphatase Enzyme, Elevated
• Bone Fracture
• Bone Pain
• Brain atrophy
• Bronchial Pneumonia
• Bronchiectasis

C

• Cachexia
• Calcium, Low
• Cancer of the Esophagus
• Cancer of the Pharynx
• Cancer Predisposition in Children
• Candida Infections
• Carbohydrate Malabsorption
• Cardiomegaly
• Cataracts
• Cerebral Perfusion Abnormalities
• Cheilosis
• Cholesterol, Low
• Chorea
• Chronic Bullous Dermatosis
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Coagulation Factors, Low
• Colitis, Collagenous
• Colitis, Lymphocytic
• Colitis, Ulcerative
• Colonic Volvulus
• Common Variable Immunodeficiency
• Complications After Childbirth
• Complications During Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery
• Congenital Anomalies
• Constipation
• Constipation Alternating with Diarrhea
• Copper, Low
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Cortical Calcyfying Angiomatosis
• Crohn’s Disease
• Cryptic Intestinal T-cell Lymphoma (Refractory Sprue)
• Cutaneous Vasculitis
• Cutis Laxa
• Cystic Fibrosis

D

• Defective Tooth Enamel
• Delayed Gastric Emptying
• Delayed Puberty
• Dementia
• Depression
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis
• Dermatomyositis
• Developmental Delay
• Diabetes Mellitus Type I
• Diabetic Instability
• Diarrhea, Acute (also called Celiac Crisis)
• Diarrhea, Chronic
• Down Syndrome
• Duodenal Erosions in the Second Part of Duodenum
• Dysmenorrhea
• Dyspareunia
• Dysphagia

E–F

• Easy Bruising (Ecchymosis)
• Early Menopause
• Eczema
• Edema
• Edema of Small Intestinal Lining
• Enteropathic Arthritis
• Enteropathy Associated T-cell Lymphoma (EATL)
• Epilepsy
• Erythema Elevatum Diutinum
• Erythema Nodosum
• Esophageal Small Cell Cancer
• Esophageal Motor Abnormalities
• Extraintestinal Lymphomas
• Failure to Thrive
• Fatigue/Lassitude
• Fecal Occult Blood
• Follicular Hyperkeratosis
• Food Allergies, IgE and non-IgE Immune Responses

G–H

• Gas
• Gastric Ulcer
• Gastric Ulcerations
• Gastritis, Collagenous
• Gastritis, Lymphocytic
• Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Gastrointestinal Complications of Type 1 Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal Occult Bleeding
• Glucose, Low or Elevated
• Gluten Sensitive Enteritis
• Glycogenic Acanthosis
• Graves’ Disease
• Growth Retardation
• Gums Bleeding/Swollen (purplish in adults/red in children)
• Hangnail
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Hemochromatosis
• Hepatic Granulomatous Disease
• Homocysteine, Elevated
• H. Pylori Bacteremia
• Hyperprolactinemia
• Hypertension
• Hypocalcuria
• Hypogonadism
• Hypokalemic Rhabdomyolysis
• Hypoprothrombinemia
• Hyposplenism
• Hypotonia

I

• Ichthyosis, Acquired
• Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis •Idiopathic Pulmonary Permeability
• Idiopathic Hypoparathyroidism
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura • IgA Deficiency
• IgA Nephropathy
• Impaired Gallbladder Motility
• Impotence
• Inability to Concentrate
• Infertility
• Insomnia
• Intraepithelial Lymphocytosis in Small Bowel Samples
• Intrauterine Growth Retardation
• Irritability
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Itchy Skin Rash

J–K

• Jejunitis, Chronic
• Juvenile Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
• Keratomalacia
• Kidney Stones
• Koilonychia

L–M

• Lactose Intolerance
• Laryngospasm
• Late Menarche
• Latent Anemia in Enzymopathies of Small Intestine
• Leaky Gut Syndrome
• Liver Enzymes, Elevated
• Loss of Vitality
• Lung Cavities or Abscess
• Lymphadenopathy
• Lymphoma
• Macroamylasemia
• Macrocytosis
• Macrolipasemia
• Magnesium, Low
• Malabsorption of Nutrients
• Maltose Intolerance
• Melanoma
• Mesenteric Lymph Node Cavitation
• Migraine
• Miscarriage
• Monoarthritis, Recurrent
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscle Pain and Tenderness
• Muscle Spasm and Cramps
• Muscle Wasting
• Muscle Weakness

N–O

• Nails, Dry and Brittle That Chip, Peel, Crack, or Break Easily
• Nails with Horizontal and Vertical Ridges/Fragile
• Nail with Rounded and Curved Down Ends, Dark, Dry
• Nails with White Spots
• Nails with Splinter Hemorrhages
• Nausea
• Nervous System Disorders
• Neutropenia
• Nightblindness
• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
• Nonresponse to Tuberculosis Treatment
• Nosebleeds, Unexplained
• Obesity
• Ocular Myopathy
• Oral Mucosal Lesions
• Osteitis Fibrosa
• Ostiomalacia
• Osteomalactic Myopathy
• Osteonecrosis
• Osteopenia
• Osteoporosis

P

• Pancreatic Insufficiency
• Parathyroid Carcinoma
• Penicillin V Impaired Absorption
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Phosphorus, Low
• Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
• Plasma Proteins, Low
• Plummer-Vinson Syndrome
• Pneumococcal Septicemia
• Polymyositis
• Post-cricoid Cancer
• Potassium, Low
• Premenstrual Syndrome
• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
• Primary Hyperparathyroidism
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
• Progressive Multifocal Leukoencepha Iopathy
• Prolonged Prothrombin Time
• Prurigo Nodularis (Hyde’s Prurigo)
• Psoriasis
• Psoriatic Arthritis

R–S

• Refractory Anemia
• Rickets
• Sarcoidosis
• Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders
• Scleroderma
• Seborrhea
• Secondary Hypoparathyroidism
• Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy
• Short Duration of Breast Feeding
• Short Stature
• Sjögrens Syndrome
• Small Bowel Intussusception
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
• Smell, Loss of
• Sperm Abnormalities
• Spina Bifida
• Steatorrhea
• Stroke in Childhood
• Sucrose Intolerance
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

T

• Taste, Loss of
• Tetany
• Thin hair
• Tongue (beefy, red, smooth, burning)
• Tongue (fiery red, smooth, swollen, sore)
• Tongue (magenta, swollen)
• Tongue (pale, smooth, burning)
• Transient Erythroblastopenia
• Tremors
• Tuberculosis, Increased Susceptibility to
• Turner Syndrome

U–Z

• Urinary Tract Infection
• Urticaria, Chronic
• Uveitis, Bilateral
• Vaginitis
• Vasculitis of the Central Nervous System
• Vitiligo
• Vomiting
• Weight Gain, Unexplained
• Weight Loss, Unexplained
• Xerophthalmia
• Zinc, Low

Originally posted in March 2016 and updated.