Severe Anemia in a Child With Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease and Suspected Parvovirus B19-Associated Erythroid Suppression

Celiac disease (CeD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion. While anemia is common due to nutrient malabsorption or chronic inflammation, severe anemia is rare. We present a case of a 5-year-old boy with newly diagnosed CeD who developed severe anemia due to parvovirus B19 (PB19) infection associated with pure red cell aplasia resulting in hospitalization. Evaluation revealed positive PB19 polymerase chain reaction and findings consistent with PB19-pure red cell aplasia. The prolonged infection was likely exacerbated by nutritional and immune compromise from untreated CeD. This case highlights the importance of considering causes of severe anemia beyond nutritional deficiencies in children with CeD.