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[Diagnostic image (395). A girl with failure to thrive and abdominal distension]

E Oussoren1, G C B Bindels-de Heus

  • 1Erasmus MC-Sophia Kinderziekenhuis, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Rotterdam. e.oussoren@erasmusmc.nl

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|December 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

A 1.5-year-old girl experienced failure to thrive due to undiagnosed coeliac disease. Early diagnosis and management are crucial for pediatric growth and development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Failure to thrive (FTT) is a common concern in pediatric primary care.
  • Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion, often presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms or FTT.

Observation:

  • A 1.5-year-old female presented with significant FTT.
  • The patient's clinical presentation was attributed to undiagnosed coeliac disease.

Findings:

  • Coeliac disease was identified as the underlying cause of the patient's failure to thrive.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering coeliac disease in the differential diagnosis of FTT in young children.

Implications:

  • Timely diagnosis of coeliac disease can prevent long-term complications associated with malnutrition and FTT.
  • Pediatricians should maintain a high index of suspicion for coeliac disease in infants and young children presenting with FTT.

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