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Coeliac disease among children in Kuwait: difficulties in diagnosis and management
F A Khuffash1, M H Barakat, A A Shaltout
1Department of Paediatrics, Kuwait University, Safat.
Insights
Diagnosing coeliac disease in children is often delayed, with symptoms presenting early but diagnosis occurring years later. This study highlights challenges in identifying coeliac disease, especially in differentiating it from other causes of chronic diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Immunology
Background:
- Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion.
- Early diagnosis and management are crucial for preventing long-term complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and diagnostic delay of coeliac disease in children.
- To discuss challenges in diagnosing and managing coeliac disease in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of diagnosed coeliac disease cases in children over a five-year period.
- Calculation of incidence rates based on annual birth data.
- Review of clinical presentation, age at onset, and age at diagnosis.
Main Results:
- An average annual incidence of 1:3000 births was observed.
- Children presented with severe symptoms, including rickets in 25% of cases.
- A significant diagnostic delay of 34 months was found, with a mean age at diagnosis of 72 months.
Conclusions:
- Coeliac disease diagnosis in children is often significantly delayed.
- Difficulties in differentiating coeliac disease from other causes of chronic diarrhea complicate diagnosis and management.
- Infantile cases of coeliac disease were not identified in this cohort, suggesting later presentation.
Abstract:
Twenty children with coeliac disease were diagnosed over a five year period in an area with 10,000-12,000 births per year. The average annual incidence was 1:3000 births. All children presented with severe symptoms and rickets was not uncommon (25%). Mean age at onset of symptoms was 38 months (range 6-120) and 72 months at the time of diagnosis (range 13-192), with a mean delay of 34 months. No cases were diagnosed during infancy. The difficulties in the differentiation of coeliac disease from the more common causes of chronic diarrhoea, and problems with diagnosis and management are discussed.
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