Kutty, JHussey, SBroderick, AMQuinn, SBourke, B2015-07-062015-07-062015-05http://hdl.handle.net/10147/559034Recent studies have shown a worldwide prevalence of coeliac disease (CD) of around 1% and one of the highest prevalence rates (1 in 300) has been found in the West of Ireland. 1,2 The incidence of coeliac disease appears to be increasing. For example, a greater than 6-fold increase over a 20 year period was evident in a recent retrospective Scottish study. 3 Children with selective IgA deficiency, Down syndrome, Type I diabetes mellitus and autoimmune diseases are at increased risk of CD. Those with a family history are particularly vulnerable with as many as 1 in 10 first-degree, and 1 in 40 second-degree relatives affected. 1 The presenting features of coeliac disease are heterogeneous. The most commonly described symptoms include diarrhoea, excessive flatulence, weight loss, failure to thrive, abdominal distension, pain, bloating, vomiting and anorexia. Irritability is a particularly consistent finding in symptomatic coeliac disease in childhood and CD can also present with many other systemic symptoms such as iron deficiency, anaemia, fatigue, short stature, abnormal liver enzyme tests, osteopenia and dermatitis herpetiformis. However, it must also be remembered that the vast majority of affected individuals manifest few or no symptoms at allenGLUTENINTESTINEALLGERIESArticleIrish Medical Journal