Which is a common symptom of celiac disease in childhood?

Which is a common symptom of celiac disease in childhood?

• A. Iron deficiency anemia
• B. Hyperhidrosis
• C. Hearing loss
• D. Muscle dystrophy

Answer: (A)

In childhood celiac disease, damage to the proximal small intestine from an autoimmune reaction to gluten reduces the intestine’s ability to absorb iron. This malabsorption leads to iron deficiency anemia, which is a common presenting sign in kids, sometimes appearing before more obvious GI symptoms. The anemia often improves when a strict gluten-free diet is started and absorption normalizes. Other options don’t fit the typical pattern: excessive sweating isn’t related to intestinal damage, hearing loss isn’t a known manifestation of celiac disease, and muscle dystrophy reflects a primary neuromuscular disorder rather than malabsorption from villous atrophy.

In childhood celiac disease, damage to the proximal small intestine from an autoimmune reaction to gluten reduces the intestine’s ability to absorb iron. This malabsorption leads to iron deficiency anemia, which is a common presenting sign in kids, sometimes appearing before more obvious GI symptoms. The anemia often improves when a strict gluten-free diet is started and absorption normalizes.

Other options don’t fit the typical pattern: excessive sweating isn’t related to intestinal damage, hearing loss isn’t a known manifestation of celiac disease, and muscle dystrophy reflects a primary neuromuscular disorder rather than malabsorption from villous atrophy.