clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
- chronic diarrhoea - this is the commonest feature.
- failure to thrive
- abdominal distension
- pallor - this can be the result of anaemia due to iron or folate deficiency
- recurrent infections - the presence of chronic cough in association with failure to thrive should raise the suspicion of malabsorption and cystic fibrosis. There may be clubbing and chest deformity present.
- behavioural changes - a child with coeliac disease may become anorexic and extremely irritable and this may be the presenting complaint. Malabsorption may cause a child to become very lethargic.