Coeliac disease: a potentially treatable health problem of Saharawi refugee children

Objective To characterize the clinical and nutritional impact of coeliac di sease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) among Saharawi children living as refu gees 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 clinica l history was taken and a clinical examination, non-quantitative 24-hour di etary recall, anthropometric and skinfold measurements, bioelectric impedan ce analysis (BIA) of body composition, and venous blood sampling for haemog lobin determination were performed. Results Gluten-containing food, especially bread, was the staple diet of Sa harawi children. Abdominal pain and distension were significantly commoner among children with coeliac disease than in controls (P < 0.05). The mean h eight-for-age was significantly lower in such children than in controls (-2 .5 +/- 1.4 units vs -2.8 +/- 1.3 units, respectively, P < 0.01). No signifi cant differences were found for either skinfold or BIA measurements. Haemog lobin values tended to be lower in children with coeliac disease than in co ntrols. Conclusions Coeliac disease has a negative effect on the health status of S aharawi refugee children. Because of the high prevalence of the condition i n 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.