Siblings Of Children Research Articles

Physical and Emotional Sibling Violence in Childhood and Attachment in Close Relationships in Adulthood.

Despite the consequences of physical and emotional sibling violence, which can last into adulthood, research examining this form of family violence is minimal compared to child abuse, interpartner violence, and elder abuse. One area that has received scarce attention is the connection between physical and emotional sibling violence and attachment in close relationships in adulthood. This research study examines the association between physical and emotional sibling violence and adulthood attachment in a sample of 2,458 individuals who completed a survey on the sub-Reddit platform "/r/SampleSize: Where your opinions actually matter!" Participants completed items on demographics, frequency of physical and emotional behaviors experienced with a sibling in childhood, and adult attachment. Results found physical and emotional sibling violence in childhood to be associated with attachment in close relationships in adulthood. Frequency of physical and emotional sibling violence in childhood was also associated with comfortability with intimacy and closeness, comfortability of depending and relying on others, and concerns of abandonment and rejection by others in adulthood. The findings underscore the need to not only include physical and emotional sibling violence in future research on attachment but also to examine the connection between these phenomena in diverse samples (ethnicity, sexual orientation). Also highlighted is the need for practitioners to assess sibling relationships when working with children, families, and adults experiencing attachment issues throughout the life course.

Trajectories of Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Siblings of Children With Cancer: The First Two Years Post-Diagnosis.

Identify and describe trajectories of cancer-related posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among siblings of children with cancer within two years of diagnosis. Siblings (aged 8-18; M = 11.2 years) across the United States, and for each, one caregiver, were recruited for a cohort sequential longitudinal study with three data collection points six months apart beginning at 6- or 12-months after cancer diagnosis. Siblings (N = 229; 42% of eligible/approached; 53% identifying as female; 68% identifying as non-Hispanic White) completed the Child Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale. Caregivers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) and growth mixture modeling (GMM) identified PTSS patterns across time. Fit statistics supported models with three to five PTSS trajectories. The three-class LCGA model included a large mild PTSS group (61%), a moderate PTSS group (35%), and a small (4%) stable severe PTSS group. The four-class LCGA and three- and four-class GMM included groups improving from moderate to mild PTSS (7-21%) and worsening to moderate PTSS across time (12-17%). Across models, siblings with mild PTSS had fewer caregiver-reported emotional and behavioral difficulties on the SDQ. A large group of siblings of children with cancer demonstrate resiliency, however, substantial subsets experience patterns of PTSS that include levels in the moderate-to-severe range during the first two years post-diagnosis. Future research should examine these patterns in more diverse/representative samples and identify factors associated with increasing and sustained severe PTSS to inform intervention targets and reduce cancer-related burden on families.

Sibling-Based Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT The increased prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has caused a clinical need for interventions to address the unique problems present in families of children with ASD. Previous research supports the benefit of Neurotypical (NT) siblings in mediating communication, social, and relationship deficits in both their sibling with ASD and the familial system. This systematic review examined present measures, outcomes, and intervention characteristics of sibling mediated interventions within families of children with ASD, with 10 studies meeting criteria to be included in this review. Outcomes varied within these small samples, but included gains in reciprocal play, communication, and positive regard between a NT sibling and one with ASD, and positive regard within the familial system. Systemic intervention research using siblings of children with ASD should utilize standardized measurements to increase replicability for clinicians attempting to implement the intervention, as well as larger samples and more diverse participants for increased generalizability.

“They were here, and they still matter”: A qualitative study of bereaved parents legacy experiences and perceptions

Background: Legacy building interventions are used in pediatric healthcare settings to help families cope with difficult healthcare experiences and typically reserved for intentional use at or near the end of a child’s life. However, little is known about how bereaved families perceive the concept of legacy that these practices are meant to address. Emerging research challenges the view of legacy as a standardized, handheld keepsake item but rather as a summation of qualities and experiences that affect those left behind. Therefore, more research is needed. Aim: To explore the legacy perceptions and experiences of bereaved parents/caregivers in an effort to inform legacy-oriented interventions in pediatric palliative care. Design: In this qualitative, phenomenological study grounded in social constructionist epistemology, bereaved parent/caregivers completed a semi-structured interview about their legacy perceptions and experiences. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an inductive, open coding approach grounded in psychological phenomenology. Setting/participants: Participants were parents/caregivers and one adult sibling of children (ages 6 months–18 years) that died between 2000 and 2018 at a children’s hospital in the Southeastern United States and spoke English as their primary language. Results: Sixteen parents/caregivers and one adult sibling were interviewed. Participants’ responses converged across three themes: (1) definitions of legacy, including traits and characteristics, impacts on others, and the child’s enduring presence; (2) manifestations of legacy, such as tangible items, experiences, traditions, and rituals, and altruism; and (3) factors perceived to affect legacy experiences, including characteristics of the child’s death and one’s personal grief process. Conclusion: Bereaved parents/caregivers define and experience their child’s legacy in ways and manifestations that conflict with current legacy building interventions used in pediatric healthcare settings. Thus, an immediate shift from standardized legacy-oriented care to individualized assessment and intervention is needed to provide high-quality patient- and family-centered pediatric palliative care.

Behavioural reactions to an emotion evoking task in infants at increased likelihood for autism spectrum disorder

Infants at increased likelihood for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit more negative affect and avoidance behaviour than typically developing infants, and children with ASD express fear differently than typically developing peers. We examined behavioural reactions to emotion-evoking stimuli in infants at increased familial likelihood for ASD. Participants included 55 increased likelihood (IL) infants (i.e., siblings of children diagnosed with ASD) and 27 typical likelihood (TL) infants (i.e., no family history of ASD). At 18 months, we showed infants two masks that commonly elicit fearful responses in older children and examined potential behavioural differences in approach, avoidance, ‘freezing’, crying, gaze aversion, and smiling. At 24 months, infants were assessed with the Toddler Module of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2). Results of video-based coding showed that (1) IL infants exhibited more intense avoidance behaviour than TL infants in response to masks, and (2) intensity of avoidance and duration of freezing were positively correlated with ADOS-2 symptom severity scores. Findings suggest that differences in response to emotion-eliciting stimuli may predict later ASD symptoms. Such behavioural differences may inform early detection and intervention in ASD.

Financial hardship among siblings of long-term survivors of childhood cancer: A Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) report.

10048 Background: Siblings of children with cancer may experience adverse household economic and psychosocial impacts during and after treatment. While many long-term survivors of childhood cancer experience financial hardship, financial outcomes of siblings in later adulthood are unknown. Methods: We surveyed randomly selected nearest age siblings of survivors (aged 18-64y) enrolled in the CCSS to estimate the prevalence of financial hardship, using 20 items adapted from validated national surveys grouped into 3 domains (material, psychological, behavioral). We calculated the prevalence of reporting any hardship within each domain. Multivariable logistic regression estimated associations between sibling sociodemographic characteristics and each domain of hardship. For individual financial hardship items with a matching item in the contemporaneous National Health Interview Survey (n = 21,271) or Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 259,901), we compared siblings with national survey respondents aged 18-64, calculating adjusted prevalence ratios to sample-weighted responses, adjusted for sex, race, ethnicity, household income, education, and marital status. Results: 1,008 siblings participated (of 1,590 approached; 63%) with median age of 46y (IQR 39–53y). Siblings were 57% female, 89% non-Hispanic White, 69% college-educated, and 74% married. The prevalence of reporting any material, psychological, and behavioral hardship among siblings was 34%, 28%, and 23%, respectively. Sibling factors associated with reporting material financial hardship included: female sex (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.4), age (30–39y vs 21–29y: OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.1–6.5), household income ($50,000–$74,999 vs ≥$75,000: OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4–3.6), lack of health insurance (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1–5.1), presence of severe/disabling chronic medical conditions (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.8), out-of-pocket medical expenses ≥10% of income (vs < 10%: OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.9–12.3), and increased non-medical/non-home debt (for example, $25,000–$49,999 vs none: OR 5.2, 95% CI 3.2–8.6). Associations with psychological and behavioral hardship were similar. Compared with national survey respondents, siblings were more likely to report financial hardship on several individual items: difficulty paying medical bills (PR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.4), worries about bills (PR 1.1, 95% CI 1.1–1.2), foregoing medical care (PR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0–1.6) and dental care (PR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.6) due to cost, and worries about affording nutritious foods (PR 1.7, 95% CI 1.5–2.0). Conclusions: Adult siblings of childhood cancer survivors are more likely to experience multiple aspects of financial hardship than US adults in the general population, suggesting that childhood cancer may have life-long impact on siblings. Increased support for families across the trajectory of cancer treatment may help prevent or reduce financial hardship.

A question prompt list for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

A question prompt list for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Intervensi dan Dukungan terhadap Psikososial Sibling Anak dengan Penyakit Kronis

This study aims to examine in a structured way the research results related to sibling interventions and support programs for children with chronic illnesses and their effects on psychosocial siblings. The method used is a systematic review using six electronic databases: Clinical Key Nursing, Scopus, Science Direct, Sage Journal Taylor & Francis, PubMed, and hand-searched. The keywords used to search for relevant articles in this study were: (sibling OR brother OR sister) AND (chronic OR disability) AND (Intervention OR therapy) AND (psychosocial OR psychology OR social). The results showed that as many as five articles were obtained discussing different types of intervention and support, which positively affected sibling psychosocial conditions. In conclusion, sibling intervention and support can be done through communication, the interaction between siblings, support groups, and art and nature therapy. Sibling intervention and support can positively improve the psychosocial condition of sibling children with chronic illnesses.
 
 Keywords: Support, Intervention, Chronic Disease, Siblings, Siblings

How do public health nurses in Norwegian school health services support siblings of children with complex care needs?

There is a paucity of data regarding the care and support provided by Norwegian school health services to siblings of children with complex care needs. Public health nurses are an integral part of these universal services, which focus on health promotion and disease prevention in primary and secondary schools. This study aimed to explore health promotion interventions by public health nurses for siblings in Norwegian schools and to identify regional differences. An online national questionnaire was distributed to Norwegian public health nurses and leaders of public health nursing services (N = 487). The questions were related to how the nurses support siblings of children with complex care needs. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. An inductive thematic analysis of free-text comments was conducted. The study was approved by the Norwegian Centre for Research Data. The majority of public health nursing leaders (67%) reported that the services in their municipality had no system to identify siblings or to provide them with routine care. However, 26% of public health nurses reported that routine support was provided to siblings. Regional differences were identified. This study included responses from 487 PHNs from all four health regions in Norway. The study design is limited and gives a brief outline of the current situation. Further data are needed to provide in-depth knowledge. This survey provides important knowledge for health authorities and professionals working with siblings, about inadequate support and regional differences in care provided to siblings by school health services.

"I Never Said Anything. I Didn't Tell Anyone. What Would I Tell?" Adults' Perspectives on Disclosing Childhood Sibling Sexual Behavior and Abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Communities.

Sibling sexual harmful dynamics (SSHD) is a term used, in this study, to refer to childhood sexual behaviors that are inconsistent with age-appropriate curiosity, including sibling sexual abuse (SSA). Although SSA is a prevalent and long-lasting form of intrafamilial sexual abuse, it is the least reported, studied, and treated. This study aims to deepen the understanding of the disclosure process of this phenomenon in the Israeli Orthodox Jewish society, as perceived by those involved. Participants were adults from the Orthodox communities in Israel who experienced sexual interactions/abuse with one or more of their siblings. This qualitative constructivist-grounded theory study was based on semi-structured interviews with 24 adults from the Israeli Orthodox Jewish communities. Seven barriers to disclosure were identified and organized into three main categories: intrapersonal, including denial of the acts, guilt, and shame; interpersonal, including the sibling relationship and perceiving the sexual acts as routine; and cultural, including lack of sexual knowledge, the concept of modesty, and marriage prospects. In addition, we highlight the intersectionality between the different contexts of the SSHD. This study explored the barriers to disclosing SSHD in the siblings' context and the context of the Jewish Orthodox communities. The findings contribute to understanding the unique aspects of the disclosure, as expressed in religious and cultural contexts, the sibling context, and their intersectionality. Cultural and religious sensitivity is crucial for practitioners, especially as issues of sexuality and sexual understanding stem from the related norms and values.

The effectiveness of the serious game “Broodles” for siblings of children with intellectual disabilities and/or visual impairment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSiblings of children with disabilities also need support. However, there are only a few evidence-based interventions for these siblings. The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of a newly developed serious game for young siblings of children with intellectual disability (ID) and/or visual impairment (VI). This serious game is hypothesized to improve sibling’s quality of life, adjustment to their brother’s or sister’s disability, and multiple aspects of psychosocial well-being.MethodsThe intervention consists of a serious game called “Broodles” (in Dutch: “Broedels”) that helps children to recognize and deal with thoughts, feelings, and difficult situations. The game consists of eight 20-minute levels that all have the same structure with eight game elements. Each level addresses a domain of sibling quality of life and combines animations, mini-documentaries, fun mini-games, and multiple-choice questions. In addition to the game, siblings make a worksheet after playing each level. In order to support the child, the parents or caregivers receive a short brochure with information and tips. The effectiveness of the intervention will be investigated among a sample of 154 children aged 6–9 years and their parents or caregivers, using a two-arm parallel RCT design. The experimental group will play the serious game “Broodles” over a period of 4 weeks, whereas the control group will be placed on a waiting list. Assessments will take place at three time points: pre-test (week 1), post-test (week 5), and follow-up (weeks 12–14). At each timepoint, children and parents will complete several questionnaires on quality of life and different aspects of psychosocial well-being. In addition, children will make drawings to assess the sibling relationship. Next to that, parents and children will answer closed and open-ended questions about the sibling adjustment to their brother or sister’s disability. Finally, parents and children will evaluate the serious game through closed and open-ended questions.DiscussionThis study contributes to the knowledge about sibling interventions and serious games. Additionally, if the serious game is proven to be effective, it will be a readily available, easily accessible, and free of charge intervention for siblings.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05376007, registered prospectively on April 21, 2022.

Direct Sibling Influence on Eating Behavior in Early Childhood: Siblings as Role Models and Caregivers

ObjectiveDespite the majority of US children having at least 1 sibling, little is known about how siblings influence eating behavior and obesity risk. This qualitative study explored mothers’ perceptions of older siblings’ influences on younger siblings’ eating behavior in the context of mealtimes in early childhood. MethodsA purposive subsample of mothers (n = 30) who participated in the Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories and SIBSIGHT studies completed retrospective semi-structured interviews designed to explore the implications of sibling influences on maternal feeding practices during infancy and toddlerhood. Interviews were conducted by video conference with mothers between January and March 2021. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and a qualitative content analysis approach was used to code and identify themes. ResultsTwo main themes were identified related to the influence of older siblings on younger siblings during feeding interactions: 1) Older siblings as positive role models for younger siblings and 2) Older siblings acted as caregivers for younger siblings. Younger siblings received encouragement at mealtimes to try new foods. Older siblings assisted their mothers in caregiving and feeding tasks in developmentally appropriate ways. ConclusionsFindings may help to elucidate the role of older siblings in shaping eating behavior and obesity risk of siblings in early childhood. Better understanding the role of siblings can aid in the development of novel interventions and anticipatory nutrition guidance in family-based clinical and community care.

Toward the detection of reduced emotion expression intensity: an autism sibling study

ABSTRACT Introduction Expressing emotions through spontaneous facial expression is an important nonverbal social communication skill. In our study, we aimed to demonstrate that both children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the non-ASD siblings of children with ASD have deficits in this skill. Method In this study, we analyzed the six core facial emotion expressions of three distinct groups of children – those diagnosed with ASD (n = 60), non-ASD siblings (n = 60), and typically developed children (n = 60). To analyze facial expressions, we employed a computer vision program that uses machine learning algorithms to detect facial features and conducted an evidence-based task that involved assessing participants’ ability to recognize facial emotion expressions. Results Deficits in spontaneous emotion expression were shown in the children with ASD and in non-ASD siblings when compared with typically developed children. Interestingly, it was determined that these deficits were not related to the severity of the autism symptoms in the ASD group. Conclusions The results of the study suggest that computer-based automated analysis of facial expressions with contextual social scenes task holds potential for measuring limitations in the ability to express emotions, and they supplement the traditional clinical assessment of social phenotypical behavior deficits. This applies both to children with ASD and especially, to the non-ASD siblings of children with ASD. This study adds a novel approach to previous literature examining the emotion expression skills.

The experiences of siblings of children with chronic illness of health-related communication directed at them: a systematic review protocol and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies

The psychological, social and financial impact that chronic illness can have on a family and in particular the siblings of children with chronic illness (SCWCI) is well documented. Siblings are at risk of a variety of psychosocial and physical problems such as suffering from anxiety, experiencing headaches, appetite loss. However, the experiences with health-related communication of SCWCI is not well known. This may leave them with suboptimal information. The aim of this systematic review described in this protocol is to understand SCWCI experience of targeted health-related communication; detailing the communication strategies utilised, how helpful the information was and what they wish would be different. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis for Protocols (PRISMA-P) checklist will be used to frame this protocol. Registration: PROSPERO (393998, 03 February 2023).

Investigating the development of the autonomic nervous system in infancy through pupillometry.

We aim to investigate early developmental trajectories of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as indexed by the pupillary light reflex (PLR) in infants with (i.e. preterm birth, feeding difficulties, or siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder) and without (controls) increased likelihood for atypical ANS development. We used eye-tracking to capture the PLR in 216 infants in a longitudinal follow-up study spanning 5 to 24months of age, and linear mixed models to investigate effects of age and group on three PLR parameters: baseline pupil diameter, latency to constriction and relative constriction amplitude. An increase with age was found in baseline pupil diameter (F(3,273.21) = 13.15, p < 0.001, [Formula: see text] = 0.13), latency to constriction (F(3,326.41) = 3.84, p = 0.010, [Formula: see text] = 0.03) and relative constriction amplitude(F(3,282.53) = 3.70, p = 0.012, [Formula: see text] = 0.04). Group differences were found for baseline pupil diameter (F(3,235.91) = 9.40, p < 0.001, [Formula: see text] = 0.11), with larger diameter in preterms and siblings than in controls, and for latency to constriction (F(3,237.10) = 3.48, p = 0.017, [Formula: see text] = 0.04), with preterms having a longer latency than controls. The results align with previous evidence, with development over time that could be explained by ANS maturation. To better understand the cause of the group differences, further research in a larger sample is necessary, combining pupillometry with other measures to further validate its value.

The role of sibling aggression during childhood in decision-making during adulthood

Research shows sibling relationships can influence cognitive development, specifically in terms of high-order processes involved in social functioning. These high-order processes take place in the human prefrontal cortex. While prefrontal connectivity can be influenced by factors experienced during developmental phases, it remains unclear how experiences of aggression towards a sibling in childhood can contribute to high-order processes in adulthood, specifically decision-making. Through two studies, we sought to establish a relationship between sibling aggression and decision-making styles reported in adulthood, as well as real-time risky decision-making. Study 1 examined the relationship between childhood experiences of sibling aggression and high-order function, specifically decision-making. Self-reports from 142 adult participants revealed that using sibling aggression to maintain dominance (ESAS; Harrison, 2017) was linked to avoidant and spontaneous decision-making (GDMS; Scott & Bruce, 1995). The findings reported here indicate a possible role of sibling aggression in the development of avoidant and spontaneous decision-making styles. Study 2 investigated the relationship between childhood sibling aggression (ESAS; Harrison, 2017) and performance in risky decision-making tasks (IOWA gambling task; Bechara et al., 2000) among 75 adult participants. It revealed that experiences of sibling aggression did not predict risky decision-making. These findings indicate that the types of decisions made may be influenced by childhood sibling aggression, but not the level of risk involved in decisions made.

P39 - Support needs of siblings of children with Metachromatic leukodystrophy, the parents experiences: Presenter(s): Torun Marie Vatne, Frambu resource centre for rare disorders, Norway

P39 - Support needs of siblings of children with Metachromatic leukodystrophy, the parents experiences: Presenter(s): Torun Marie Vatne, Frambu resource centre for rare disorders, Norway

Parent-Reported Caregiving Roles of Siblings of Children with Inborn Errors of Metabolism.

Research examining sibling caregiving contributions to medically complex pediatric patients, including those with inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs), is limited. We assess caregiving roles and attributes of siblings and hypothesize that there will be differences in parent-reported contributions among siblings of children with IEMs and siblings of typically developing (TD) children. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design guided analysis of data from parental surveys and semistructured interviews. Interviews were conducted with parents (n = 49) of children with IEMs and parents (n = 28) of exclusively TD children. We used inductive thematic analysis to identify themes related to sibling caregiving. The caregiving and support roles for siblings (n = 55) of children with IEMs and siblings (n = 42) of TD children were coded to assess each sibling's caregiving contributions and personal attributes. Logistic regressions, using generalized estimating equations, were fitted. Results showed that siblings of children with IEMs were significantly more likely to provide monitoring (odds ratio [OR]: 3.62, confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-10.07) and emotional/social support (OR: 4.02, CI: 1.67-9.67) than siblings of TD children. Themes arising from interviews with parents of children with IEMs focused on sibling attributes, parental expectations regarding sibling caregiving, and challenges to the sibling-sibling and parent-sibling relationships. Themes revealed nuances in the sibling caregiving experience. Siblings of children with IEMs make meaningful caregiving contributions and may provide care differently than siblings of TD children. Understanding childhood caregiving roles may inform how health care providers and parents encourage sibling caregiving contributions into adulthood.

Technology-Mediated Support Among Siblings of Children with Cancer.

Purpose: A diagnosis of pediatric cancer can leave healthy siblings with limited access to support. Technology-mediated interpersonal interactions have been noted among adolescent and young adults with cancer and may be an effective source of support for adolescent siblings of children with cancer. In this study, we understand how adolescent siblings use technology to connect with their support network and how their technology use changes after their sibling's cancer diagnosis. Methods: Participants included a national sample (N = 24) of adolescents aged 12-17 who had a sibling diagnosed with cancer in the last 2 years (up to 3 years if still receiving curative-focused treatment). Ecomaps were cocreated with participants to identify sources of social support and modality of interactions. Interviews were transcribed, coded, content analyzed, and descriptively summarized. Results: Adolescent siblings (mean = 14.2 years) perceived technology as a tool to maintain support from their established personal network, rather than a way to expand sources of social support. Most did not seek support or information about cancer outside their known network, preferring information to come from parents or trusted network members. Siblings identified video calls as an important resource for connecting with parents, their sick brother or sister, and others to receive emotional support and companionship. Conclusions: Findings suggest that adolescent siblings of children use technology to connect with their established network for support, an important finding for designing assessments and interventions for this population. Future inquiry should explore these differences, identify unmet needs, and inform acceptable, effective interventions to augment support.

Celiac Disease Screening in the Siblings of Pediatric Patients with a Confirmed Diagnosis: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: The close relatives of patients with celiac disease (CD), particularly their siblings, are known to be at a higher risk for CD development. Objectives: Our aim was to determine the prevalence of CD in siblings of confirmed CD patients in Lorestan province, Iran, in 2020. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody levels were measured in 140 siblings of children with CD. Duodenal biopsies were taken to confirm the diagnosis in those with positive serological tests. The subjects’ demographic and clinical data were recorded into a pre-designed questionnaire, and the collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 at a significance level of 0.05. Results: Twelve out of 140 subjects (8.6%) tested positive for tTG IgA, eight of them (66.7%) were girls, and most of them (75%) were ≤ 15 years old. Half of the newly diagnosed patients were in the Marsh IIIc category. The Marsh grading had no significant relationship with the serum levels of tTG IgA antibodies (P = 0.319). The most common gastrointestinal symptom was bloating (66.7%), and the most common extraintestinal symptoms were anemia (58.3%) and dental and oral diseases (58.3%). Conclusions: We found a high prevalence (8.6%) of CD among the siblings of children with confirmed CD. Since the early diagnosis of CD can lead to better management, particularly in pediatrics, it is recommended screen patients’ family members as soon as the diagnosis of CD is confirmed.