STUDY TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE OF CELIAC DISEASE AMONG SHORT STATURED CHILDREN

Aim: To determine the incidence of celiac disease (CD) in short-stature children reported to the Services Hospital, Lahore. Study design: A Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration: In the Pediatric Unit-II of Services Hospital, Lahore for one-year duration from November 2019 to November 2020. Methods: Children of short stature (height ≤ - 2 SD for mean or below the 3rd percentile due to age and gender) attending the Pediatric department were included after obtaining informed consent. A detailed interview and physical examination have been recorded. Appropriate studies were performed, including an antibody against tissue transglutaminase (IgA and IgG) by ELISA as a CD marker. The reasons for the short stature were recorded on the previously prepared proforma for the final analysis. Results: Of the 288 short stature patients, 151 (52.43%) were male with a male to female ratio of 1.1: 1. Nineteen (6.6%) patients had CD, 43 (14.9%) had hypothyroidism. and 28 (9.72%) with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). One of the GHD patients also suffered from CD. Similarly, among diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism, one was related to coexisting CD and diabetes. Of the 19 patients with CD, 11 were male and 8 were female, all were anemic (Hb