Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Recognition of Epidermal Transglutaminase by IgA and Tissue Transglutaminase 2 Antibodies in a Rare Case of Rhesus Dermatitis
Published on: December 15, 2011
Age related clinical features of childhood coeliac disease in Australia
Monique L Stone1, Timothy D Bohane, Kylie E Whitten
1Department of General Paediatrics, Sydney Children's Hospital, High St Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. stonem@sesahs.nsw.gov.au
Insights
Coeliac disease presents differently in children based on age. Younger children often show diarrhoea and irritability, while older children commonly experience abdominal pain.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Paediatrics
- Immunology
Background:
- Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten.
- Understanding its varied presentation in children is crucial for timely diagnosis.
- Age-related differences in paediatric coeliac disease symptoms are not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the clinical presentation of coeliac disease in children.
- To investigate if presenting symptoms of coeliac disease differ by age group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for children with suspected coeliac disease.
- Inclusion of patients diagnosed via standard histological criteria.
- Analysis of clinical data from a tertiary paediatric hospital in Sydney, Australia.
Main Results:
- Data from 74 confirmed paediatric coeliac disease cases were analyzed.
- Only 9% of diagnoses occurred in children under 2 years old.
- Younger children (<5 years) commonly presented with diarrhoea, irritability, and weight loss.
- Older children (≥5 years) most frequently reported abdominal pain.
Conclusions:
- Significant age-related variations exist in the clinical presentation of paediatric coeliac disease.
- Symptoms like diarrhoea and irritability are more common in pre-schoolers.
- Abdominal pain is a more prevalent symptom in school-aged children with coeliac disease.
Background:
To describe the presenting clinical features of coeliac disease in a single paediatric centre, and to determine if the presenting features vary with age.
Methods:
A review was conducted of children who had been referred with clinical suspicion of coeliac disease to the paediatric gastroenterology department of a tertiary paediatric hospital in Sydney, Australia. Coeliac disease was defined using standard histological criteria. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively.
Results:
Clinical data were available for 74 cases of proven coeliac disease. Only 9% of patients were less than 2 years of age at diagnosis. Pre-school children (age < 5 years) presented with different symptoms to school children (age > or = 5 years). The most common presenting features in younger children were diarrhoea, irritability and weight loss. However, in older children, abdominal pain was the most common presenting feature.
Conclusion:
We found a significant difference in the clinical features of coeliac disease in pre-school compared to school age children.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:12Giardiasis
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...