One of the commonest autoimmune conditions, coeliac disease is an immune-mediated condition that is triggered by the ingestion of gluten in those who have a genetic susceptibility and can result in intestinal inflammation and irritation. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Coeliac disease has a prevalence in England of 1%, with a diagnosed prevalence of 0.24% (West et al, 2014). It is estimated that 75% of coeliac disease is undiagnosed and the condition is often misdiagnosed by healthcare professionals, with one in four people with coeliac disease having previously been treated for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Card et al, 2013).
