Disease specific symptoms indices in patients with celiac disease—A hardly recognised entity

Disease specific symptoms indices in patients with celiac disease—A hardly recognised entity · SciRah

^aDepartment of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
^bFaculty of Allied Health Sciences, University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
^cDepartment of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan
^dUniversity Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
^eDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
^fDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan
^gNur Internationl University, Lahore, Pakistan
^hNur International University, Pakistan
ⁱDepartment of Nutrition Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
^jDepartment of Nutrition Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Pakistan
^kFaculty of Allied Health Sciences, University Institute of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
^lFaculty of Allied Health Sciences, University Institute of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
^mNational Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
ⁿNational Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
^oDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
^pDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia
^qDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
^rDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
^sDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
^tDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia
^uInstitute of Home Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
^vInstitute of Home Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
^wThe Physio College of Rehabilitation, Multan, Pakistan
^xThe Physio College of Rehabilitation, Pakistan
^yUniversity Institute of Food Science and Technology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
^zUniversity Institute of Food Science and Technology, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
^aaDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of Narowal, Narowal, Pakistan
^abFood, Nutrition and Lifestyle Unit, King Fahed Medical Research Center, Clinical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
^acDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of Narowal, Pakistan
^adFood, Nutrition and Lifestyle Unit, King Fahed Medical Research Center, Clinical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
^aeFaculty of Allied Health Sciences, University Institute of Public Health, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
^afHealth Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
^agFaculty of Allied Health Sciences, University Institute of Public Health, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
^ahHealth Services Academy, Pakistan
^aiHussain Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
^ajHussain Memorial Hospital, Pakistan
✉Corresponding author

Abstract

Background: Celiac disease (CD) was considered a rare disease before and was perceivably only limited to children but now affects almost 1-2% of the global population. This abrupt increase in prevalence is due to advancements in diagnostic criteria and medical facilities but still many countries lack the basic data that can assess the severity of this health issue. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the common but rarely diagnosed condition with the identification of its underlying secondary ailments. Materials and methods: Patients visiting public sector hospitals were recruited and tested for clinical symptoms secondary to gluten-containing foods (wheat and barley, etc.), followed by serological testing for immunoglobulin A, tissue transglutaminase A, and anti-endomysial antibodies. Only seropositive candidates were included in the endoscopic and biopsy examination for the features of villous atrophy and intestinal cell damage. The secondary ailments including anemia, growth retardation, and gastrointestinal symptoms were also documented for the tested positive patients. The modified European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) criterion was followed throughout the study. Results: From 647 suspected cases from March 2018 to July 2019, 113 were confirmed with CD while 58% were female children and 42% were male children. The majority of them were from a lower class (75%) and 26% of them had a positive family history of CD. A total of 67% of patients with CD were underweight while wasting was observed in 38%, and 80% were stunted as well. Of the positively tested patients with CD, 49% had moderate anemia with 15% having severe anemia. Approximately 33% had hypoalbuminemia as well. The majority of them had a mild to severe range of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatus, eructation, diarrhea, and steatorrhea. Conclusion: The study finding indicates an increased number of patients diagnosed with CD with an excessive sum of secondary ailments, such as anemia, growth failure, growth retardation, malnutrition, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Disease specific symptoms indices in patients with celiac disease—A hardly recognised entity

Abstract

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