Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten in genetically predisposed individuals, affecting about 1% of the general population in the developed world. In 2012, the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) recommendations for CD diagnoses in children and adolescents were introduced, allowing the “no-biopsy” approach if certain criteria were met. This approach was also confirmed in the revised guidelines published in 2020. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess—over a one-year period—the clinical presentations and current status of the management of children and adolescents diagnosed with CD in Poland. Medical records of children and adolescents, newly diagnosed with CD in 2022/2023 in three medical centers in Poland, were involved. Gastroenterologists completed the specific anonymous web-based forms developed in the CD SKILLS project, including data routinely assessed at individual visits about the diagnostic approach and clinical presentation of the disease. Our study assessed 100 patients (56% girls) with an age range 1.6–18.0 years. We found that 98% of patients were serologically tested prior to a CD diagnosis and 58% of patients were diagnosed using the “no-biopsy” approach. In the analyzed group, 40% belonged to a known risk group, only 22% had annual screening before the CD diagnosis (the longest for 9 years), and 19% showed no symptoms at the time of the CD diagnosis. Our research confirmed the applicability of the “no-biopsy” approach for the diagnosis of CD in children and adolescents in Poland, and also showed changes in the clinical picture of CD. Moreover, we highlight the need to introduce broad CD serological screening in risk groups of the Polish population.

Background: In the past decade, significant progress has been achieved in the care of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our study concentrated on assessing the incidence and management of IBD in children in North-Eastern Slovenia over a 10-year period. Methods: Medical data from children and adolescents diagnosed with IBD in North-Eastern Slovenia (2014–2023) was analysed. Disease incidence and management of children were assessed. Findings were compared between two periods (2014–2019 and 2020–2023, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic). Results: 87 patients (median age 15.5 year; 50.6% male) with IBD (43.7% Crohn’s disease (CD)), diagnosed between 2014 and 2023 were included. Extraintestinal manifestations were more common in CD than ulcerative colitis (UC) (15.8% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.05). Median delay from symptom onset to diagnosis was 2 months, lower in UC than CD (NS). Mean annual IBD incidence per 100,000 children aged 0 to 19 years was 6.4 (95% CI 4.4–8.3), slightly lower for CD than UC (2.8/100,000 vs. 3.1/100,000). In the second period, IBD incidence significantly rose (9.1 vs. 4.6, p < 0.05). During this period, 53% of CD patients transitioned to biological treatment within three months of diagnosis. Conclusion: IBD incidence rose among children in North-Eastern Slovenia over the past decade. Additionally, more children with CD underwent biological therapy in the second period.

Background. Foreign body (FB) ingestion remains a common cause of pediatric emergency department referrals, and the gold standard for detection is whole-digestive-tract radiographic examination. Our study explores whether handheld metal detectors (HHMD) can effectively identify the presence and location of ingested metal objects, potentially reducing the need for additional radiographic examination. Methods. We collected medical data from children with suspected metal FB ingestion who were referred to our emergency department (October 2017–March 2023), focusing on object type and correlating metal detector findings with radiographic images. Results. Data from 43 children (39.5% female; mean age: 4 y) referred to our emergency department were analyzed. Coins (32.6%), button batteries (18.6%), and hairpins (11.6%) were the most common ingested objects. Metal detectors detected the presence of FBs in 81.4% of cases (sensitivity: 89.7%; specificity: 100%). Radiographs, taken for 40 children, showed that the most common locations were the stomach (37%) and intestine (33%). The metal detector signals matched the radiography results in 69.8% of cases. According to HHMD, 34.9% of objects were accessible via endoscopy, contrasting with 51.2% via radiography (p < 0.05). Conclusion. While the findings obtained using handheld metal detectors often correlate well with radiograph findings in detecting metal FBs, for an important number of children, this confirmation is lacking, especially when determining the exact location of an object.

Several studies have shown that the knowledge about coeliac disease (CD) is not satisfactory among healthcare professionals (HCP). The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge of HCPs about CD in the Danube region. HCPs from 8 countries in the Danube region were asked to complete the web-based questionnaire about CD. Scores of HCPs were compared according to their speciality, work experience and country of residence. The results were compared with the results of a similar study conducted in Central Europe within the Focus IN CD project in 2016. Questionnaire was completed by 799 HCPs from Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia. Mean score achieved by HCPs was 52.2%. Paediatric gastroenterologists scored the highest (75.3%). Comparing the data with the study conducted in Central Europe in 2016, we found a significant rise (p < 0.001) in the knowledge of paediatric gastroenterologists. Also, HCPs who previously took part in the Focus IN CD project, achieved higher score (61.1% vs. 50.8%; p < 0.001). The knowledge about CD among HCPs in Danube region is not satisfactory. There has been a significant increase in the knowledge of paediatric gastroenterologists, showing the benefit of various awareness raising activities that were carried out recently.

Summary: Introduction: Over the past decade, the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) proposed the option of diagnosing coeliac disease (CD) in children without duodenal biopsy. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic approach in newly diagnosed children with CD in Slovenia. Methods: In this prospective study, Slovenian paediatric gastroenterologists were invited to provide medical records of children under 19 years diagnosed with CD from March 2021 to October 2023. The analysis focused on tissue transglutaminase antibody (TGA) levels at diagnosis, diagnostic approach, adherence to ESPGHAN CD guidelines and diagnostic delays. Results: Data from 160 newly diagnosed CD patients (61.9% female; median age 8 years; 16.9% asymptomatic) were available for the analysis. No-biopsy approach was used in 65% (N = 104) of children and the majority (N = 101) fulfilled all the criteria for the no-biopsy approach. Of 56 children diagnosed using duodenal biopsy, a further 10 (17.8%) would have also been eligible for the no-biopsy approach based on the very high levels of TGA. Median diagnostic delay from first symptoms to confirmation of diagnosis was 6 months (min 0 months, max 87 months). Use of the no-biopsy approach has risen significantly since 2016 (37.8% vs. 65.0%; p = 0.001) and diagnostic delays have shortened (6 vs. 7 months; p < 0.05). Conclusion: This prospective study highlights the frequent use of a no-biopsy approach for diagnosing CD in children in Slovenia, showing large adherence to ESPGHAN guidelines. Also, diagnostic delays have shortened over recent years, likely due to various awareness-raising projects on CD conducted during this period.

Objective: Coeliac disease is characterized by a wide array of clinical presentations. The focus of our study was to comprehensively assess the clinical manifestations of coeliac disease in newly diagnosed children in Slovenia. Our objectives include estimating the incidence of the disease in children in 2022. Methods: In this prospective study, Slovenian paediatric gastroenterologists were invited to provide patient data using medical records of children under 19 diagnosed with coeliac disease from March 2021 to October 2023. Patient data were collected through a dedicated web-based form adapted from the CD SKILLS project, including data on clinical manifestations and laboratory results. Furthermore, the study included an estimation of the incidence of coeliac disease in children and adolescents in Slovenia in 2022. Results: Analysis involved data from 160 children and adolescents (median age: 8 years; 61.9% female). Overall, 16.9% were asymptomatic at diagnosis and 29.4% belonged to a high-risk group for coeliac disease. Among symptomatic cases (N = 133), abdominal pain was the leading symptom (44.4%), followed by anaemia (12.0%) and diarrhoea (10.5%). Malabsorption symptoms were more prevalent in very young children. Anaemia was found in 22.8 and 10.7% had abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels. The estimated incidence of coeliac disease in Slovene children in 2022 was 17.5/100 000. Conclusion: Abdominal pain emerged as the primary symptom of coeliac disease in children and adolescents, except in very young children where malabsorption symptoms were predominant. Our observation of a lower prevalence of abnormal liver function tests suggests subclinical coeliac disease may be less common in children. Moreover, the calculated coeliac disease incidence in Slovenia aligns with existing data.