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Beginning and maintaining a completely gluten-free lifestyle can be challenging for children and adolescents with celiac disease. ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Pediatric Celiac Disease and Gluten-Related Disorders Program, part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, offers families the tools they need to make this transition as easy as possible. In this program, pediatric gastroenterologists, nurse practitioners and other nursing professionals, nutritionists, and social workers focus on improving the health and quality of life of children with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Our child and family support services and resilience programs are provided by Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care.

Celiac Disease Workshops

¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ holds celiac disease workshops for children with the condition and their families. Topics include the importance of working with a nutritionist and ways in which a child can make the right food choices at school. 

Support Groups 

Social workers who take part in our pediatric celiac disease program organize support groups for parents of young children and for pre-teens and teens with celiac disease. Support groups can help children and teens in their transition to a gluten-free lifestyle and help to address any fears about consuming gluten accidentally, which can lead to social anxiety in some children. 

Support groups can also help parents to learn how to explain a diagnosis of celiac disease to their child. They can also help families and children to manage situations, such as parties and other social events, in which gluten may be present. Through these support groups, teens learn how to become more responsible for their own care as they transition to adulthood.

Ongoing Studies

¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ doctors actively participate in celiac disease research and promote a greater understanding of this condition among children and their families. Specialists from Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital are currently collaborating with an expert panel from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition in the development of clinical recommendations for the treatment of celiac disease. 

Our specialists are also conducting a follow-up study of children who have been diagnosed with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity to find out how they are coping with their diagnosis and treatment.