Background The prevalence of and risk factors for neurological problems in childhood coeliac disease (CD) are unclear.

Methods We performed a cross-sectional, community-based audit of CD in children diagnosed from January 2010 to December 2016 in Lothian.

Results 79 (28%) of 284 children with CD (201, 70.8% female) (mean age 8.3 years, range of 1–16) had neurological problems. Fifteen (5.3%) had headaches/migraine, 10 (3.5%) anxiety, 8 (2.8%) motor/co-ordination problems / ataxia (there were no patients with ataxia), 7 (2.5%) had behavioural issues, 5 (1.8 %) with ASD, 5 (1.8%) low mood, 4 (1.4%) ADD/ ADHD, 3 (1.1%) seizures and 2 (0.7%) had neuropathy. Neurological problems were more common with later age at CD diagnosis (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14) and male gender (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.95).

Conclusion Prevalence of neurological problems in children with CD in Lothian is lower than published adult CD studies and similar or lower to the reported prevalence in the general childhood population.