Celiac disease is a gluten-related autoimmune enteropathy that is often underdiagnosed in resource-limited settings due to restricted access to specific diagnostic tests. It frequently presents with non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis.
We report the case of a 17-year-old female patient with no significant medical history, presenting with chronic abdominal pain associated with prolonged diarrhea and progressive weight loss over several months. Physical examination was largely unremarkable. Initial differential diagnoses included infectious and parasitic etiologies, which are common in our setting.
Available laboratory investigations did not identify a definitive cause. Given the persistence of symptoms and a clinical picture suggestive of malabsorption syndrome, celiac disease was suspected. However, the lack of access to specific serological testing and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with duodenal biopsies prevented diagnostic confirmation.
This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of celiac disease in resource-limited settings. The non-specific nature of clinical manifestations and the unavailability of specialized diagnostic tools contribute to delayed diagnosis and likely underestimation of this condition.
Celiac disease should be considered in any case of chronic diarrhea associated with unexplained weight loss, even in young patients without significant medical history. Improving access to diagnostic tools is essential to reduce diagnostic delays and optimize patient management.