PHARMACEUTICAL ATTENTION IN THE CELIAC DISEASE: SAMPLINGS IN THE CITY OF FOZ DO IGUAÇU/PR

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the difficulty found in the diagnosis of celiac disease; the identification of patients’ knowledge about the pathology; Self-medication to treat the symptoms before the disease is detected; the significance of the pharmaceutical care to the celiac patients, among others related problems. Methods: Biographical survey and gathering of data encompassing the sampling of individuals of Foz do Iguaçu, members of the local celiac society. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the interviews occurred by electronic contact, trough “Google Forms”. This work had its project submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of UNIOESTE, approved on August 7, 2020 in all of its terms and proposals, with opinion n. 4.198.688. Results: It was found that, of the 180 interviewed, 56.7% of all the carriers made used self-medication. And 41, 1% of all patients reported that the necessary time for the disease diagnosis was 1 to 5 years. Among the most common symptoms was abdominal swelling with 94,4% incidence, cramps with 60,6% and flatulence with 76,1%. Another important factor to be considered is that 87,8% reported to have the pathology under study, due to genetic predisposition. Conclusion: Such responses prove the importance of the pharmaceutical professional to identify the pathology and guide about which conduct must be followed by the patient, as well how to guide them on the possible presence of gluten in some medications, aiming to avoid self-medication, abuse of drugs that can aggravate the symptoms and a greater incentive to clinical knowledge in order to obtain an early diagnosis.