093_HR0478

 
                                     LRB093 13262 RAH 18531 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Celiac Disease, also known as Celiac Sprue, is a
 3    genetic, autoimmune disease that affects 2.1  million  people
 4    in  the  United  States  and 94,742 in the State of Illinois;
 5    Celiac Disease causes  damage  to  the  small  intestine  and
 6    interferes  with  the  intestine's  function of digestion and
 7    absorption of nutrients; and

 8        WHEREAS,  One  in  700  will  carry  the  diagnosis,  and
 9    undiagnosed Celiac Disease may be as common  as  one  in  133
10    persons; and

11        WHEREAS,  Damage  occurs  when  the  protein  fraction of
12    dietary gluten found in wheat, oats, rye, and barley comes in
13    contact with the lining of the small intestine; and

14        WHEREAS, Gluten damages the  intestines  and  keeps  your
15    body  from  taking  in  many of the nutrients from food; this
16    includes vitamins, calcium, protein, carbohydrates, fats, and
17    other important nutrients; and

18        WHEREAS, Celiac Disease is a genetic disorder, and if one
19    family member has  the  disease,  each  first  degree  family
20    member  has  a  risk of developing Celiac Disease approaching
21    10%; a person may have this  tendency  for  a  while  without
22    getting  sick,  then  something  like severe stress, physical
23    injury, infection, childbirth, or surgery can  "trigger"  the
24    disease; and

25        WHEREAS, Celiac Disease affects both adults and children;
26    among  the  most  common  symptoms  (in  fact the most common
27    symptoms for adults and children is no symptoms at  all)  for
28    adults  are  weight  loss,  chronic diarrhea or constipation,
29    abdominal cramping, intestinal gas, and muscle  wasting;  for
30    children   the   symptoms  usually  include  growth  failure,
31    projectile vomiting, diarrhea, and a bloated abdomen; and
 
                            -2-      LRB093 13262 RAH 18531 r
 1        WHEREAS, Celiac  Disease  is  a  life-long  disease  that
 2    fortunately can be controlled by following a 100% gluten-free
 3    diet;  by  following  this  diet,  you can reverse the damage
 4    caused by the disease and feel better; and

 5        WHEREAS, New blood tests can help  your  doctor  diagnose
 6    this  disease, including the tissue transglutaminase test and
 7    the anti-endomysial antibody test; those  who  test  positive
 8    require  an  endoscopic biopsy to establish the diagnosis; if
 9    you have dermatitis herpetiformis (an  itchy,  blistery  skin
10    problem), a simple skin biopsy can diagnose the disease; and

11        WHEREAS,   Celiac  Disease  Awareness  Month  strives  to
12    increase public awareness of the symptoms and causes  of  the
13    disease,  as  well  as to educate physicians caring for those
14    with undiagnosed celiac disease; therefore, be it

15        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
16    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
17    we declare the month  of  October  2003,  and  every  October
18    thereafter, as Celiac Disease Awareness Month in the State of
19    Illinois   and   all  citizens  are  urged  to  join  in  the
20    commemoration of this important observance.