Coeliac disease: a potentially treatable health problem of Saharawi refugee children.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the clinical and nutritional impact of coeliac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) among Saharawi children living as refugees in Algeria.


METHODS
A total of 65 Saharawi children with coeliac disease were compared with 71 age-matched non-coeliac controls. For each participant, the clinical history was taken and a clinical examination, non-quantitative 24-hour dietary recall, anthropometric and skinfold measurements, bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) of body composition, and venous blood sampling for haemoglobin determination were performed.


RESULTS
Gluten-containing food, especially bread, was the staple diet of Saharawi children. Abdominal pain and distension were significantly commoner among children with coeliac disease than in controls (P < 0.05). The mean height-for-age was significantly lower in such children than in controls (-2.5 +/- 1.4 units vs -1.8 +/- 1.3 units, respectively, P < 0.01). No significant differences were found for either skinfold or BIA measurements. Haemoglobin values tended to be lower in children with coeliac disease than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Coeliac disease has a negative effect on the health status of Saharawi refugee children. Because of the high prevalence of the condition in the Saharawi, a specific programme for treating all affected individuals should be established. Further studies are required to quantify the impact of coeliac disease in other areas of the developing world.
Rätsch
I M
IM
Department of Paediatrics, University of Ancona, Via F. Corridoni 11, 60123 Ancona, Italy.
Catassi
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D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000208:ethnology; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002669:Child Welfare; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005983:Glutens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012036:Refugees
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005983:Glutens