Awareness of the Public about Celiac Disease in Children in Saudi Arabia

Background: Celiac disease is a chronic immune-mediated enteropathy that affects the small intestine of genetically predisposed individuals and is precipitated by the ingestion of food containing gluten. Treatment consists of a gluten-free diet to control the signs and classic symptoms of the disease and prevent complications. Objective: To determine the awareness of the public about celiac disease in children in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study conducted during the period from 1st May to 31st July 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used. The study included 1619 participants. Data collected using a pre-designed online questionnaire distributed among parents of children and adolescents. The questionnaire includes about 18 items that guide us to the awareness of the public about celiac disease in children. Results: Half of participants (50.1%) think that Celiac diseases are a form of allergy to wheat products. Less than half (46.7%) of cases think that there is a correlation between the presence of celiac and disease and other immunological diseases and 33.7% don't know. The majority of participants 59.9% think that family history has a role in the occurrence of celiac diseases and 62.4% think that it affects humans at any age. Only 28.8% of participants think that celiac disease is more prevalent in the Middle East than in any other region and the majority 49.8% don't know. The majority (35.2%) of participants don't know if there was a relation between cough and asthma with celiac disease. About third (31.6%) of the participants agreed that CD is linked to diabetes and 26.3% think that the CD associated with genetic diabetes than acquired diabetes. More than half of participants 51.5% think that psychological disorders are among the causes of celiac disease but, 39% of them don't think that pregnancy and childbirth are among the causes of CD and 40.6% don't know if surgical operations are among the causes or not. The majority of participants 59% think that CD is treatable disease, and 49.7% think that a patient with CD should have food that is completely free of wheat and its products. More than half (52.3%) participants think that colon cancer is one of the consequences of CD. Conclusion: The general population of Saudi Arabia, has reasonable knowledge about celiac diseases in children. We recommend health education sittings to raise the awareness of the public about the disease.