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Original Article
Online Published: 05 Apr 2026
 


Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Ghaidaa Abdullah Almuhammadi, Reema Majed Almaghrabi, Lamar Abdulelah Amer, Rawia Abdulrahman Alzughaibi, Raghad Mohammed Alruhaymi, Sadeen Hussain Alharbi, Abeer Fathy, Najat Alahmadi.


Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to measure the interval between initial symptom onset and confirmed diagnosis in symptomatic children with celiac disease (CD) from the Madinah region, and to identify factors contributing to prolonged diagnostic delay.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 81 pediatric patients (≤19 years) with confirmed CD attending the gastroenterology clinic at the Maternity and Children Hospital, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Data were obtained via an online questionnaire or phone interview for cases diagnosed with CD between 2020 and 2025.
Results: The mean diagnostic delay from symptom onset was 5.4 ± 3.5 and 1.3 ± 1.8 years from the first medical visit. Children aged above 9 years experienced significantly longer delays. Diagnostic delay varied by symptom type, being longest for growth disorder symptoms (8.6 ± 2.6 years) and shortest for skin-related symptoms (1.9 ± 3.0 years; p-value = 0.01).
Conclusion: Diagnostic delay in pediatric patients with CD was considerable, particularly among older children and those presenting with growth disorders. Age at presentation was the only factor significantly associated with longer delay, highlighting the need for earlier recognition and prompt diagnosis to improve outcomes and quality of life.

Key words: Celiac disease, diagnostic delay, pediatric population, Saudi Arabia, Madinah region, gluten-free diet


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Almuhammadi GA, Almaghrabi RM, Amer LA, Alzughaibi RA, Alruhaymi RM, Alharbi SH, Fathy A, Alahmadi N. Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. 2026; 10(5): 1332-1339. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053

Web Style

Almuhammadi GA, Almaghrabi RM, Amer LA, Alzughaibi RA, Alruhaymi RM, Alharbi SH, Fathy A, Alahmadi N. Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=308879 [Access: May 07, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Almuhammadi GA, Almaghrabi RM, Amer LA, Alzughaibi RA, Alruhaymi RM, Alharbi SH, Fathy A, Alahmadi N. Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. 2026; 10(5): 1332-1339. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Almuhammadi GA, Almaghrabi RM, Amer LA, Alzughaibi RA, Alruhaymi RM, Alharbi SH, Fathy A, Alahmadi N. Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. (2026), [cited May 07, 2026]; 10(5): 1332-1339. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053


Harvard Style

Almuhammadi, G. A., Almaghrabi, . R. M., Amer, . L. A., Alzughaibi, . R. A., Alruhaymi, . R. M., Alharbi, . S. H., Fathy, . A. & Alahmadi, . N. (2026) Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC, 10 (5), 1332-1339. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053


Turabian Style

Almuhammadi, Ghaidaa Abdullah, Reema Majed Almaghrabi, Lamar Abdulelah Amer, Rawia Abdulrahman Alzughaibi, Raghad Mohammed Alruhaymi, Sadeen Hussain Alharbi, Abeer Fathy, and Najat Alahmadi. 2026. Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (5), 1332-1339. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053


Chicago Style

Almuhammadi, Ghaidaa Abdullah, Reema Majed Almaghrabi, Lamar Abdulelah Amer, Rawia Abdulrahman Alzughaibi, Raghad Mohammed Alruhaymi, Sadeen Hussain Alharbi, Abeer Fathy, and Najat Alahmadi. "Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10 (2026), 1332-1339. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Almuhammadi, Ghaidaa Abdullah, Reema Majed Almaghrabi, Lamar Abdulelah Amer, Rawia Abdulrahman Alzughaibi, Raghad Mohammed Alruhaymi, Sadeen Hussain Alharbi, Abeer Fathy, and Najat Alahmadi. "Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10.5 (2026), 1332-1339. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Almuhammadi, G. A., Almaghrabi, . R. M., Amer, . L. A., Alzughaibi, . R. A., Alruhaymi, . R. M., Alharbi, . S. H., Fathy, . A. & Alahmadi, . N. (2026) Diagnostic delays in children with celiac disease in Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (5), 1332-1339. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1769982053




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