Thirty-six cases of previously unrecognized celiac disease were found among children in a rheumatology evaluation, according to a study published in Pediatrics.
Here are six key notes:
1. A total of 2,125 pediatric patients who came for an initial evaluation by the division of pediatric rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York were screened for CD.
2. The total prevalence of CD over the study period was 2 percent.
3. The most common complaints among patients diagnosed with CD were myalgia, arthralgia and rash.
4. Less frequently, patients reported gastrointestinal complaints including abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea.
5. All patients reported improvement or resolution of their symptoms after implementing a gluten-free diet.
6. "These results underscore the importance of screening children presenting for rheumatology evaluation for CD," noted study authors.