Living with Celiac Disease not a Piece of Cake
1 in 133 Canadians May Have Celiac Disease, which Can Take Years to Diagnose
Montreal, September 27, 2005 – Celiac disease is more common than you think. It is estimated one in 133 Canadians have this disease and many don’t even know because it can take up to 10 years before a proper diagnosis is made.
October is Celiac Disease Awareness Month and to mark the occasion the Quebec Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association in collaboration with The Montreal Children’s Hospital of the MUHC will be holding a half-day seminar entitled “Raising Awareness of Celiac Disease.”
WHEN: SUNDAY October 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Amphitheatre (D-182) of The Children’s, 2300 Tupper
WHY: To provide up-to-date information on key issues, including prevalence, clinical presentations, diagnostic issues, lifelong diet and more.
Gluten-free snacks will be available for tasting during the break.
Celiac Disease is a medical condition in which the surface of the small intestine is damaged by a substance found in gluten called gliadin. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, triticale and barley. Oats are also very often contaminated with wheat and are considered unsafe. As a result of the damage to the small intestine, the body is unable to absorb nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health.
Common symptoms of celiac disease are anemia, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, cramps and bloating and irritability. At present there is no cure, but Celiac Disease is readily treated by following the gluten-free diet.
Below is a list of speakers at the Sunday October 2 seminar:
Pediatric Gastroenterologists:
Dr. Mohsin Rashid, Dalhousie University and Dr. Martha Dirks, Université de Montréal
Dietician:
Louise Desaulnier, Nutrition Clinic Louise Lambert-Lagacé Inc.
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For more info or to arrange an interview please call:
Lisa Dutton
Manager Public Relations and Communications
The Montreal Children’s Hospital of the MUHC
(514) 412-4307