Kelly is a 27-year-old Caucasian who works as a bank teller. She is 5'3" tall and weighs 102 pounds. She began experiencing recurrent gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhea, steatorrhea, and flatulence several months ago. She made an appointment with her physician after noticing that she was losing weight. Laboratory tests confirmed a diagnosis of celiac disease.
The gastrointestinal symptoms Kelly is experiencing are due to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Celiac disease is a condition where the immune system reacts to gluten, found in wheat, barley, and rye. This immune reaction causes damage to the intestinal mucosa, which then leads to malabsorption of nutrients, including fats. The symptoms of diarrhea, steatorrhea (fatty stools), and flatulence are all due to the inability of the intestines to properly absorb and digest nutrients. Weight loss is also common in individuals with celiac disease due to malabsorption.

Kelly Is a 27-Year-Old Caucasian Who Works as a Bank