Awareness of the general population about celiac disease

Celijakija, odnosno glutenska enteropatija je kronična bolest tankog crijeva uzorkovana glutenom iz pšenice, raži i ječma. Gluten je bjelančevina koja ima veliku viskoznost i elastičnost te je sastav mnogih namirnica. Osobe oboljele od celijakije striktno se moraju držati bezglutenske prehrane. Konzumiranje pšenice u ljudi oboljelih od celijakije može izazvati jake upale, razoriti crijevna vlakna ili oslabiti živčani sustav. Danas je poznato da se bolest javlja u genski predisponiranih osoba, u bilo kojoj životnoj dobi, s raznolikim simptomima. Najčešće se manifestira u ranom djetinjstvu konkretnom kliničkom slikom, učestalim, obilnim proljevastim stolicama, jako izraženim trbuhom, mršavim ekstremitetima, padom na težini. U slučaju male djece, s vremenom se stanje djeteta pogoršava uz pojavu nemira, nezadovoljstva i čestog plača. Zlatni standard za dijagnostiku bolesti je biopsija sluznice tankog crijeva koju nadopunjuje određivanje serumskih antitijela. Kvaliteta života je smanjena u odnosu na zdravu populaciju. Brojni bolesnici osjećaju se ograničeni bolešću i anksiozni te se javlja strah od stigmatizacije. Važnu ulogu u edukaciji, osim obitelji i liječnika, ima i medicinska sestra. Uloga medicinske sestre jest educirati o važnosti i principu bezglutenske prehrane. Edukacija pacijenta i obitelji je ključna intervencija u svrhu podizanja kvalitete života. Celijakija je javnozdravstveni problem te ću u ovom radu prikazati informiranost opće populacije o bolesti celijakije uz pomoć anketnog upitnika.Celiac disease or gluten enteropathy is a chronic disease of the small intestine caused by gluten from wheat, rye and barley. Gluten is a protein with a high level of viscosity and elasticity and can be found in many ingredients. Patients with celiac disease are compelled to eat gluten free their whole life. Consuming wheat while having celiac disease can cause severe inflamation, annihilate intestinal fiber and/or weaken the nerve system. It is known that celiac disease appears in genetically predisposed people at any age with diverse symptoms. It usually manifests in early childhood with a specific clinical feature, accompanied by frequent and ample diarrhea, severly conspicius abdomen, thin extremities and weight loss. In small children, the disease aggravates with specific symptoms, such as restlessness, displeasure and frequent crying. Biopsy of the small intestine lining is the golden standard in the diagnosis of celiac disease, along with determining specific serum antibodies. The quality of life is decreased in relationship to the healthy population. Many patients feel anxsious and limited by their disease. Beside doctors and family members, nurses have a crucial and extremely important role in the education of the patient regarding this disease. Nurse has an obligation to educate patients about the importance and rules of gluten free nutrition in order to increase life quality. Celiac disease is a public health problem and in this paper I will show the awarenees of the general population about this disease