title: Epidemiology of coeliac disease in children in one Croatian county: possible factors that could affect the incidence of coeliac disease and adherence to a gluten-free diet (Part II).
abstract: Coeliac disease is a life-long disorder characterised by small-intestinal mucosal damage caused by gluten. The treatment, gluten-free diet, leads to mucosal restoration and reduces the risk of malignant and non-malignant complications. According to our recent results, cumulative incidence in Croatian children is 1:519 life-births. Coeliac disease presents early, mostly with typical symptoms. We investigated possible influences of breast-feeding duration and time of gluten introduction on such presentation of the disease. Study included coeliacs born in Medimurje between 1985 and 1994 (N = 31). Patients' adherence to treatment was also studied. Although short breast-feeding (mean 2.9 months) and early gluten introduction (mean 4.9 months) were shown, no correlation was found between those factors and time of the disease presentation. Concerning adherence to gluten-free diet, only 50% of patients maintained it strictly, 23% irregularly, while 27% were on normal diet. In order to improve it, regular follow-ups are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Referral Centre for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Matek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jungvirth-Hegedus
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolacek
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005983:Glutens