INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF CELIAC-DISEAS E IN CHILDREN WITHIN A DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN GERMANY

The incidence and prevalence of celiac disease in children aged 0-16 y ears during the years 1970-1986 have been studied prospectively in a g eografic defined area of Germany. The celiac disease has been diagnose d due to the criteria of ESPGAN. During the mentioned time period, 170 patients with confirmed celiac disease and 399,477 live births were r egistered. This corresponds to an incidence of 1 : 2060. In December 1 986 384,840 children in the age between 0 and 16 years were living in the region of Dresden. This corresponds to a prevalence of 44/100,000 inhabitants. Girls were more often affected than boys (1.8 : 1).