Aim:The aim of the study was to evaluate the factors that may affect occurrence of celiac disease and symptoms related to celiac disease in school age children between the ages of 6 and 17 years. Material and Method: Between 2006 and 2008, 20190 school age children between the ages of 6 and 17 years (mean age, 11.6±2.9) in 139 schools in 62 cities of Turkey were included into the study. CD was screened using total serum IgA, IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and IgA anti-endomysial (EMA) antibodies. Subjects with selective IgA deficiency were further tested for IgG tTG. Small intestinal biopsy was offered to all subjects with tTG antibody positivity. The children who had intestinal biopsy compatible with CD composed the celiac group. Children with negative celiac antibodies composed the control group. Risk factors that may affect the occurrence of CD and symptoms related to CD were evaluated using a questionnaire in the celiac and control groups. Results: 215 of 489 children with antibody positivity approved intestinal biopsy. CD was confirmed by histopathology in 95 subjects (the celiac group). In 19701 children, celiac antibodies were found to be negative (the control group). The mean age of the children in the celiac and control groups was similar (11.7±2.8 vs. 11.6±2.9, respectively) (p>0.05). The ratio of girls was significantly higher in the celiac group than controls (61 (64.2%) vs. 10092 (51.2%), respectively) (p=0.012). There were no significant differences in terms of gastrointestinal symptoms between the groups (p>0.05). Extraintestinal symptoms including loss of appetite, history of pica and short stature were found to be significantly higher in children with CD (p=0.007, p=0.012, and p=0.011; respectively). Conclusions: It was concluded that CD was more common in girls and mostly presented with extraintestinal symptoms among 6 to 17 years old children in Turkey. (Turk Arch Ped 2011; 46: 314-21)