Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.  2015 Mar;18(1):23-29. 10.5223/pghn.2015.18.1.23.

Clinical Characteristics of Celiac Disease and Dietary Adherence to Gluten-Free Diet among Saudi Children

• Sarkhy AA
• El Mouzan
• Saeed E
• Alanazi A
• Alghamdi S
• Anil S
• Assiri A

• KMID: 2315532
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2015.18.1.23

Abstract

PURPOSE
To describe the clinical characteristics of celiac disease (CD) among Saudi children and to determine the adherence rate to gluten free diet (GFD) and its determinant factors among them.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which all the families registered in the Saudi Celiac Patients Support Group were sent an online survey. Only families with children 18 years of age and younger with biopsy-confirmed CD were included.
RESULTS
The median age of the 113 included children was 9.9 years, the median age at symptom onset was 5.5 years and the median age at diagnosis was 7 years, the median time between the presentation and the final diagnosis was 1 year. Sixty two of the involved children were females. Ninety two percent of the patients were symptomatic at the diagnosis while eight percent were asymptomatic. The commonest presenting symptoms included: chronic abdominal pain (59.3%), poor weight gain (54%), abdominal distention, gases, bloating (46.1%) and chronic diarrhea (41.6%). Sixty percent of the involved children were reported to be strictly adherent to GFD. Younger age at diagnosis and shorter duration since the diagnosis were associated with a better adherence rate.
CONCLUSION
CD has similar clinical presentations among Saudi children compared to other parts of the ward; however, the adherence to GFD is relatively poor. Younger age at diagnosis and shorter duration since the diagnosis were associated with a better adherence rate.

Keyword

Celiac disease; Gluten-free diet; Child; Saudi Arabia

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Celiac Disease*
Child*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diagnosis
Diarrhea
Diet, Gluten-Free*
Female
Gases
Humans
Saudi Arabia
Self-Help Groups
Weight Gain
Gases

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Clinical presentation prior to diagnosis.

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