Study Reveals Myriad Delays Slowing Diagnosis of Pediatric Celiac Disease in Italy

Celiac.com 05/06/2024 - A recent study conducted in Italy sheds light on the diagnostic journey of pediatric patients with celiac disease, revealing varied delays in diagnosis depending on the patients' symptoms and demographics.

The study was led by Dr. Paola Ilaria Bianchi, Dr. Marco Vincenzo Lenti, and Dr. Antonio Di Sabatino from Clinica Medica 1, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia. They emphasized the importance of timely diagnosis and universal access to healthcare in Italy, where pediatric treatments are universally available.

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Researchers analyzed data from 3,171 children diagnosed with celiac disease at 13 tertiary referral centers in Italy between 2010 and 2019. The study found that the median overall diagnostic delay for pediatric celiac disease in Italy was 5 months, with pre-consultation and post-consultation delays of 2 months and 1 month, respectively.

Family History of Celiac Disease Reduced Delays

Interestingly, children under the age of 3 years, male patients, and those with a family history of celiac disease experienced shorter diagnostic delays compared to others. On the other hand, children with less specific symptoms or failure to thrive encountered longer delays.

The team's study highlighted that conditions like neurological symptoms, gastroesophageal reflux, and failure to thrive were associated with longer diagnostic delays. Additionally, misdiagnoses were more frequent among children with gastroesophageal reflux.

However, the study acknowledged potential limitations due to its retrospective nature and reliance on patient or caregiver recall, which may introduce inaccuracies in reporting the onset of symptoms and diagnostic timelines.

The findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about celiac disease symptoms, especially among children with atypical presentations, to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention, ultimately improving health outcomes for pediatric patients with celiac disease.

Read more at medscape.com