How common is the condition?

It is now recognised that coeliac disease is more common than was previously thought.

One study indicates that 1 in 250 Australians have the condition whilst another study suggests that the prevalence is 1 in 100. A similar study in Christchurch, New Zealand, found 1 in 84 people affected by coeliac disease. It is now known that coeliac disease affects up to 1% of many communities – over ten times the figure quoted ten years ago.

Only 10-20% of individuals with coeliac disease are currently diagnosed despite many of them having symptoms or complications attributable to the condition.

Coeliac disease had been considered to be predominantly a disease affecting Caucasians rather than people of other races, but is known to occur in the population of India and some Middle Eastern countries. It is, however, very uncommon in the Oriental Asian and Australian Aboriginal population.

In the past, it was regarded as only a childhood condition, which produced symptoms in very young children. It is now known that it can affect a person at any age from infancy to senior years. Many have few or no problems during childhood but develop symptoms only as adults.

In addition, the symptoms of coeliac disease can be minor or atypical and can even be clinically silent.