The quality of life in developing age children with celiac disease

Abstract

Aim. The moments that follow thè diagnosis of celiac disease and thè early stages of thè gluten-free diet are extremely difficult and complex for parents and child, because they face an important change punctuated by selfdenial and deprivation. The mairi objective of this research is to assess thè impact of celiac disease on quality of life in subjects in developmental age, taking into account thè perceptions of parents about thè child's illness, •with thè aitn to highlight thè effect of disease on thè child and thè entire family. Methods. The study included both parents of 45 children aged between 2 and 10 years, with established celiac disease. To evaluate thè effect of celiac disease on thè lifestyle of affected children and their families has been used, after having adapted to thè Italian context, thè Impact Scale of Childhood Diseases of Hoare and Russell (1995). This study shows that celiac disease is a conditìon that has a significant impact on both thè child and his family. Results and conclusion. The results obtained by administration of Impact Scale of Childhood Diseases to parents showed that subjects in developmental age with celiac disease could have difficulty on emotional level that affect child development and thè whole family context. Acceptance of thè illness by thè child depends mainly by how much