Celiac disease or Celiac Sprue is a malabsorption disorder characterized by a permanent gluten -sensitive enteropathy resulting in malabsorption , failure to thrive and other gastrointestinal manifestations. However, it should not be confused with a food allergy or hypersensitivity to food products.

Celiac Sprue is an inherited cell-mediated hypersensitivity involving a tissue-bound immune cell , often delayed, reaction to a food allergen such as wheat, rye, oats, or barley. Gluten , a protein in these grains, is thought to be the offending agent.

The onset of the disease has no age restriction but there are many hypotheses related to possible causative factors. In some adults, symptoms leading to a diagnosis of Celiac Sprue have been observed to appear following severe emotional stress, pregnancy, an operation or a viral infection.