Prevalence of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis in Children with Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by damage to the small intestinal mucosa following the intake of gluten-containing foods in genetically predisposed individuals. Studies suggest that celiac disease is associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis.
The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis in children with celiac disease compared to healthy controls.
This study was conducted in 53 celiac children and 80 children with nonspecific abdominal pain as a control group; all participants were between 6 - 19 years. The children completed the ISAAC questionnaire, and spirometry was performed in each participant.
The prevalence rates of asthma symptoms and physician-diagnosed asthma were similar in both groups (30% and 19%, respectively, in the celiac group and 17.5% and 22.5%, respectively, in the control group) (P > 0.05). Six (11%) patients with celiac disease and seven (9%) children in the control group showed obstructive changes on pulmonary function tests. The prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis symptoms and physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis were also similar in both groups (36% and 9%, respectively, in the celiac group, and 34% and 9%, respectively, in the control group) (P > 0.05).
The prevalence rates of asthma and allergic rhinitis in patients with celiac disease were not significantly higher when compared to the healthy controls.