NIH Radio
NIDDK Launches Campaign To Increase Awareness About Celiac Disease
Brief Description:
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has launched a campaign to increase awareness of celiac disease.
Transcript:
Akinso: Ever hear of "celiac disease"? Probably not. That's why the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has launched a campaign to increase awareness of the condition — an autoimmune disorder that interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. Symptoms of celiac disease range from gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, to delayed growth, certain skin rashes, infertility and osteoporosis. Dr. Frank Hamilton, NIDDK's Chief of the Digestive Diseases Program in the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, said the campaign is intended to increase awareness of the disease, resulting in earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.
Hamilton: Well some of the primary goals is really to change some of the misconceptions about this disease as being a uncommon disease. Based on current evidence there is one percent or about 3 million Americans are affected with this condition. And our goal is to educate the community — first of all — about what it is and also the prevalence of the disease. Secondly, we want to tell them about ordering the appropriate blood test for patients with celiac disease. And the thirdly to educate the community about the consequences of celiac disease and hopefully if anything that happens we can stop the misperception that this is a rare disease. And hopefully patients who have this condition will not suffer because of misdiagnosis.
Akinso:The campaign offers materials and resources for health professionals and the public about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and management of celiac disease — including fact sheets, booklets, practice tools for health professionals, NIH research information, and resources from professional and voluntary organizations that focus on the disease. For more information about the campaign or to download any of the materials, visit www.celiac.nih.gov. This is Wally Akinso at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 8/11/2006
Reporter: Wally Akinso
Sound Bite: Dr. Frank Hamilton
Topic: Celiac Disease
Institute(s): NIDDK
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