Short Stature and Celiac Disease in Children (5 to 16 Years) Presenting at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Malabsorption is the typical presentation of celiac disease in early childhood, whereas older children can present with extra-intestinal symptoms including short stature and delay in pubertal development.Objective: To determine the frequency of celiac disease in shortening of stature in children.Material and methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pediatric Department in Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, on 152 short stature children of both genders aged 5 to 16 years. Children with dysmorphic faces, syndromes, endocrine disorders, and children or their parents who refused to give consent were excluded. Anthropometric measurement was done on standard equipment. Height and weight were plotted on WHO centile charts. All the children fulfilling inclusion criteria were advised serologic antitissue transglutaminase antibodies tests.Results: Overall the frequency of celiac disease was 33.77% (n=51) among the children with short stature. The mean age of the study was 6.71±1.52 years. There were 76 males (50.3%), while there were 75 females 49.7%. The frequency of celiac disease among short stature females was higher (n=28, 54.9%) than short stature males (n=23, 45.1%). However, the results were not statistically significant (P=0.358). The frequency of celiac disease stratified by age group was not statistically significant (P=0.491).Conclusion: One-third of children having short stature have celiac disease. The frequency of celiac disease in children with short stature has no association with gender and age.

Celiac disease - a pluripathological model in pediatric practice

“…supporting the link between small stature and CD, although their research objectified a prevalence of only 10.9% of the total number of included patients ( 75 ). Currently, it is considered that up to 1/3 of children with short stature may have associated CD, independent of the age and gender of the patients, but this is controversial ( 76 , 77 ). In order to practically exemplify the usefulness of knowing the connection between the two entities, we bring into discussion the case of a 4-year-old girl, who was in the records since the age of 4 months for low growth rate, accompanied by malnutrition, without systemic damage (gastrointestinal, renal or endocrinological).…”