Understanding the Connection Between Celiac Disease and Childhood Infections

These observations have led to further studies. Particular attention was given to the infectious agents (both harmful and non-harmful) that modify the permeability of the intestine. Adeno-, Noro-, Rota-, and Reoviruses got the most attention during various clinical investigations. It seems that these intestinal viruses upset the immune regulatory mechanism in the intestine, that leads to a false alarm with the exposure to gluten(3,4). Moreover, these studies have shown that viruses like Reoviruses may not cause any symptoms, but they still can alter the local immune responses that increase the risk of developing celiac disease(5,6).