Journal of Health & Medical Informatics

An Uncommon Early Dermatological Manifestation of Childhood Coeliac Disease

Abstract

Krishna kumar Thattakkat and Gail Whitehead

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition caused by body reaction to gluten. It affects 1:100 people. Common symptoms in children include loose stools, abdominal pain and faltering growth, poor appetite, bloating of abdomen and mood changes. Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) is the skin manifestation of coeliac disease affecting 1:3300 people. Most commonly DH affects people aged 50-69 years and is relatively uncommon in school aged children; especially as an early manifestation of coeliac disease. We present the case of a six year old child who had troublesome persistent itchy blistering rash as the initial manifestation of childhood coeliac disease, that was formally diagnosed several years later, when he developed abdominal symptoms. This is a unique rare presentation in this age group.