Many children with undiagnosed celiac disease, specifically for each diagnosed case, there are three that have not been detected, so the recorded number of children with celiac disease could multiply by four to get a true picture of the incidence of the disease. So concludes a study in the Community of Valencia for the XXIV General Assembly of the Association of European Coeliac Associations (AOECS).

The study included 32 pediatricians in the community in collaboration with the Directorate General of Public Health, the Department of Health, the purpose was to determine the exact role of celiac disease, as we know, this disease is characterized by intolerance to gluten and the impossibility eating any food containing the glycoprotein found in some cereals. Although we have talked about children with celiac disease and the diagnosis was also necessary to address the problem of children with undiagnosed celiac disease, especially the risks that this entails for their health and wellbeing.

Returning to the study, experts studied a group of 987 children aged between 5 and 10 years in 13 health centers in Valencia. Children participating in the study underwent a rapid screening test to blood, the positive tests were referred to the Hospital La Fe to verify the results again. Finally, if you kept the preliminary diagnosis of celiac disease, an intestinal biopsy was performed to certify that there were no false positives.

Clearly progress has been made in diagnostic systems and reliability, methods and approaches of the past are being questioned, in some cases the biopsy was discarded but no practice can be a possible overdiagnosis of celiac disease is not diagnosed. It is necessary to modify the diagnostic criteria are followed for two decades to avoid children with undiagnosed celiac disease, at least I believe specialists.

According to the study that we have met over 20 minutes, up to 30% of the population are predisposed to the disease but only 3% developed, this data shows that 27% have not developed, so it is interesting to detect which factors are causing the expression of intolerance to gluten. Some of the factors being considered for celiac make an appearance are the infectious nature of diseases you might have a child or own consumption of gluten. It keeps the fight to try to reduce if not diagnosed and develop preventive systems that prevent the disease develops.

One of the systems to reduce the possibility shuffled it appears gluten intolerance is to administer small amounts of gluten to infants aged between 4 and 6 months of age, some UK studies using the same technique but with allergies food such as those caused by peanuts, s have been successfully reducing its incidence significantly. Experts believe that at these ages provide gluten generates response mechanisms in the body and then feeding can tolerate gluten.

Part of the study will be presented at the aforementioned meeting, however, until the end of the year will not be completed the study and conclusions will be drawn later. Progress against gluten intolerance is slow and expensive, of course, it will be useful to remember the prices of food for celiac disease remains a price difference should be taken by Health.

We look forward to news and new data that reveal the XXIV General Assembly of the Association of European Coeliac Associations.