Lceliac disease is achronic inflammation of the small intestine which is unleashed in genetically predisposed people by ingesting gluten. According to Ministry of Healthaffects approx 1% of the population. To shed light on this disease not only a World Day, which is celebrated on May 16thbut until May 21ston the initiative of theAIC, Italian Celiac Associationan entire week with many initiatives also online.
Celiac Week
Arrived at hers eighth edition and organized in collaboration with the 21 territorial AIC associated, the National Celiac Week provides insights and events to raise awareness and provide correct information on celiac disease. Especially since, the Ministry of Health, it is estimated that almost the 60% of cases not has yet been diagnosed. Many appointments dedicated to celiac people, but not onlydistributed along the whole peninsula. The complete calendar of events is available at week of celiac disease. it
Initiatives throughout Italy
Cooking courses gluten-free for adults and children, screening and free medical consultationsdating and advice from dietitians and nutritionists, online and in presence. And in the territorial AIC offices, Open Days to inform and distribute material and gadgets to the population; workshops for children and fairy tale readings on celiac disease and inclusion. An important space is dedicated to schools with “Everyone at the table, all together: gluten-free menu days”. An initiative that includes a completely gluten-free menus for everyone in the canteens of kindergarten and primary schools over 100 Italian municipalities. An opportunity to raise awareness and inform students, families and teachers.
Celiac disease in children
“A gluten-free diet: is this today theonly therapeutic alternative for those with celiac disease. However, research goes on, hand in hand with the fact that the pathology has a prevalence than in childhoodin the band 5-10 years, has reached 2%. We know that people with celiac disease today must eliminate gluten from their diet. Yet i starchy they are very present in our diet. Eliminating them becomes a lot more difficult for a child that he may feel excluded from a party at his classmates’ school, not being able to eat the cake. For improve its integration it is necessary raise culturespecies in schools, emphasizing that it is not a disease, it is a state of health. It is necessary to educate young people and families who, at present, gluten must be eliminated completely», emphasizes the Professor Antonio Gasbarrinifrom the Gemelli Irccs Polyclinic Foundation.
Stop fake news
«There are still too many i false myths and fake news which lead to underestimating a severe disease and yet severely underestimated which affects a very large number of people. The National Week is also the occasion for remember the importance of early diagnosisfundamental form of prevention of complications, even very serious, that a late diagnosis can bring. Today in Italy we have a precious tool: nella Budget Law 2023 in fact, an economic investment is foreseen for one screening that identifies children and young people at risk of developing celiac disease or type 1 diabetes and which will be able to contribute to bring out the underground of theceliac disease iceberg“, points out Rossella ValmaranaPresident of AIC.
The women most affected
«From the data collected it appears that in Italy coeliacs are 241,729of which 73,344 males (30%) e 168,385 females (70%). Therefore, it mainly affects the female population and if not treated with diet in women increases the risk of developing fertility disorderssuch as amenorrhea, late menarche, early menopause, dysmenorrhea, and endometriosis, and pregnancy complicationssuch as multiple miscarriages, intra-uterine growth retardation, prematurity», explains the Ministry of Health.
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