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

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 _____.​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Recurrent gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhea, steatorrhea, and flatulence, along with weight loss, are all common symptoms of celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes severe damage to the intestinal mucosa, leading to malabsorption of nutrients. Gluten is the primary trigger for this response. When someone with celiac disease eats gluten, their immune system attacks the villi in the small intestine, preventing them from absorbing nutrients from food. This damage is what causes the gastrointestinal symptoms and weight loss in Kelly.

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