Original Scientific Articles

Impact of elapsed time between first symptoms and diagnosis of celiac disease on psycho-physical functioning and social life of children and adolescents

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Abstract

Introduction: . Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease resulting from an inadequate immune response to gluten in genetically predisposed individuals as a result of consuming gluten and other related proteins present in wheat, rye, barley and oats. The only cure for this specific disease is a strict, carefully controlled and lifelong gluten-free diet. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the elapsed time between the onset of the first symptoms and the diagnosis of celiac disease affected the psycho-physical functioning and social life of children and adolescents.

Methods: . The study involved 116 respondents (39 of them were males), aged 8-18 years, who were diagnosed with celiac disease. The Documentation Sheet and the Celiac-Specific Pediatric Health-Related Instrument (CDPQOL), measuring the psycho-physical functioning and social life, were used in the study.

Results: . 50% of subjects, aged ? 2 years, were diagnosed with celiac disease. 48.28% of them were diagnosed with the disease within three months after the symptom onset. In respondents with celiac disease, aged 8-12 years, there was no statistically significant difference between the psycho-physical functioning and social life and the elapsed time between the first symptoms and the established diagnosis. In subjects aged 13-18 years, using CDPQOL, a statistically significant difference was found in the following domains: school functioning, going out and social events, self-confidence. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference between total CDPQOL score and the elapsed time between the first symptoms and the established diagnosis.

Conclusion: . The elapsed time between the first symptoms and the established diagnosis significantly affects the psycho-physical functioning and social life of subjects aged 13-18 years, but it does not affect the psycho-physical functioning and social life of the younger respondents. This is to confirm the importance of early diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Keywords: celiac disease, children, diagnosis, psycho-physical functioning, social life

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