[Tetany--a first symptom of celiac disease].
BACKGROUND
Seizures in children are usually caused by fever or epilepsy, though they may also be caused by electrolyte, vitamin or mineral disturbances. We describe a case of hypocalcaemic tetany with hypovitaminosis D.


METHODS
The patient was a previously healthy eight months old girl of Indian origin.


RESULTS
Investigations revealed that she suffered from coeliac disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Coeliac disease is a well-known disorder, characterised by enteropathy and malabsorption causing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and failure to thrive. Enteropathy and specific malnutrition may occur in the total absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Moltu
S J
SJ
Barneavdelingen Sentralsykehuset Ostfold Fredrikstad.
Bentsen
B S
BS
D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D009664:Norway; D013746:Tetany / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism