coeliac disease

[ciarac]

Can you just DEVELOP coeliac disease? I mean, does it have to be inherited or can you just catch it, in so many words?

[Buenchico]

Coeliac disease can't be caught. It's known to run in families but it's arguable as to whether it's actually 'inherited'. (As an analogy, there are some families who have a greater risk of heart disease than others but heart disease isn't actually inherited).

Check out these links:
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/he.asp?ArticleID=105

http://www.coeliac.co.uk/

This quote is from the second of those links:
"Coeliac symptoms can manifest themselves at any age and, according to Coeliac UK statistics, most coeliacs are diagnosed when aged between 30 and 45 years. Recent figures even show more over-60s than under-16s being diagnosed in a year."

Hoping this helps,

Chris