Demographic and Clinical Profile of Celiac Disease in Kashmiri Children: An Observational Study

Audil Mateen; Rajnesh Kumar; Ifra Rasool; Mohammad Irfan Dar

Audil Mateen Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Rajnesh Kumar Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Ifra Rasool Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Mohammad Irfan Dar Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Keywords: Anemia, Chronic diarrhea, Failure to thrive, Malabsorption

Abstract

Introduction: Celiac disease is a common disorder in North India. No study is available regarding its clinicopathological
profile in Kashmiri children. Kashmir valley is abode to three different ethnicities principally constituted by Kashmiris and small
population of Pahari and Gujjar.
Aims and Objective: This study aims to study demographic and clinical profile of celiac disease in Kashmiri children.
Materials and Methods: The current study is hospital-based descriptive observational study conducted over 11/2 year. All patients
in the age group of 6 months–12 years presenting with chronic diarrhea and unexplained failure to thrive were evaluated for
celiac disease. A total of 62 patients were evaluated during the study period and 12 came positive for celiac disease (19%).
Results: Mean age of presentation is 6 years. Regarding principal modes of presentation, chronic diarrhea is observed in
10 (83%), unexplained failure to thrive 2 (16%), short stature 4 (33%), 7 out of 12 with wasting (58%), anemia 6 (50%), electrolyte
disturbance like hypokalemia in 7 (58%), with severe hypokalemia (k+<2) in three patients, and isolated hypertransaminasemia
in 4 (33%). Majority of the patients are Pahari/Gujjar (66%) despite constituting very little of whole population. This means that
a case of chronic diarrhea and unexplained failure to thrive is more likely to be celiac if belonging to this section of society.
Conclusion: Celiac disease is well present in Kashmiri children with case positivity rate among chronic diarrhea and unexplained
failure to thrive comparable to rest of North India and clinical spectrum shows malnutrition, anemia, and dyselectrolytemia in
majority of patients. Its prevalence varies between different ethnic groups being more in Pahari and Gujjar children as compared
to ethnic Kashmiri population.

Author Biographies

Audil Mateen, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Senior Resident, Department of Paediatrics

Rajnesh Kumar, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Lecturer, Department of Paediatrics

Ifra Rasool, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Senior Resident, Department of Paediatrics

Mohammad Irfan Dar, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Senior Resident, Department of Paediatrics

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