Pediatric Celiac Disease Program
Pediatric Celiac Disease Program
Pediatric Celiac Disease Program
Our childhood Celiac Disease Program is part of the pediatric gastroenterology department at Children's Health℠, which is ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. Our pediatric gastroenterology doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating celiac disease so your family can count on the most current, best-practice care. Families from across the Southwest travel to Children’s Health to receive care from our team.
Conditions We Treat
Treatments and Services
Comprehensive approach to care
Dealing with a chronic condition is difficult for your child and your entire family. Our experts [1] will guide and support you in the most effective ways to manage your child’s celiac disease. In addition, we’ll check your child’s blood work each year to see if their disease is active and to make sure they are receiving the nutrients they need to thrive. At every appointment, we make sure you’ll have all the time you need to ask questions about managing celiac disease.
The importance of a dedicated dietitian
Maintaining a gluten-free diet and environment are the keys to managing celiac disease. But it isn’t easy to do. Our program is the only one in North Texas with a specially trained dietitian who helps your family make the changes you desire by focusing on the food you eat and the products you use.
Gluten is found in foods with wheat, barley, rye or oats. It can also be an ingredient in products like toothpaste, shampoo or lipstick. Even some toys, like Play Doh, may have gluten.
Our dietitian teaches you which foods and products to watch out for. We also teach you things like how to replace gluten-rich foods with gluten-free foods that will keep your child healthy and strong. Your family never has to feel alone when you are cared for at Children’s Health. Our experienced team is part of your gluten-free journey.
Building safety at home, school and community
As the only pediatric celiac disease program in North Texas, we specialize in helping your family establish gluten-free spaces wherever your child needs to be. Our social worker will work with you and your child’s school to make sure they have all the accommodations they need. This can include access to gluten-free snacks and lunch options, a classroom with gluten-free supplies or the opportunity to discreetly access the bathroom as needed.
Our team also organizes activities so your family can safely celebrate events. You and your child will learn about living gluten-free at these events while meeting other families like yours. We’ll also connect you to special camps set up for children and families living with celiac disease.
The celiac clinic has been a gem for us. I appreciate that they have nutrition and psychology as part of the team approach.
Making gluten-free living as easy as possible
Our team will introduce you to tools and resources that support your gluten-free journey. These include things like a mobile app that identifies gluten-free restaurants, or one that lets you scan a product’s barcode to see if it has gluten. We’ll also help you connect to other families living gluten-free through special events, support groups and social media accounts. We even have lists of gluten-free candies.
Resources
Comprehensive approach to care
Dealing with a chronic condition is difficult for your child and your entire family. Our experts [1] will guide and support you in the most effective ways to manage your child’s celiac disease. In addition, we’ll check your child’s blood work each year to see if their disease is active and to make sure they are receiving the nutrients they need to thrive. At every appointment, we make sure you’ll have all the time you need to ask questions about managing celiac disease.
The importance of a dedicated dietitian
Maintaining a gluten-free diet and environment are the keys to managing celiac disease. But it isn’t easy to do. Our program is the only one in North Texas with a specially trained dietitian who helps your family make the changes you desire by focusing on the food you eat and the products you use.
Gluten is found in foods with wheat, barley, rye or oats. It can also be an ingredient in products like toothpaste, shampoo or lipstick. Even some toys, like Play Doh, may have gluten.
Our dietitian teaches you which foods and products to watch out for. We also teach you things like how to replace gluten-rich foods with gluten-free foods that will keep your child healthy and strong. Your family never has to feel alone when you are cared for at Children’s Health. Our experienced team is part of your gluten-free journey.
Building safety at home, school and community
As the only pediatric celiac disease program in North Texas, we specialize in helping your family establish gluten-free spaces wherever your child needs to be. Our social worker will work with you and your child’s school to make sure they have all the accommodations they need. This can include access to gluten-free snacks and lunch options, a classroom with gluten-free supplies or the opportunity to discreetly access the bathroom as needed.
Our team also organizes activities so your family can safely celebrate events. You and your child will learn about living gluten-free at these events while meeting other families like yours. We’ll also connect you to special camps set up for children and families living with celiac disease.
Making gluten-free living as easy as possible
Our team will introduce you to tools and resources that support your gluten-free journey. These include things like a mobile app that identifies gluten-free restaurants, or one that lets you scan a product’s barcode to see if it has gluten. We’ll also help you connect to other families living gluten-free through special events, support groups and social media accounts. We even have lists of gluten-free candies.
Resources
After a celiac diagnosis, a family adapts and a young girl thrives
Hailey wants to be a doctor someday, and she has the pink scrubs to prove it. She loves wearing them around her house and recently informed her mom, Shauna, that she'll pay extra close attention in school so she can learn what she needs to know. Given Hailey's early health experiences, it's no surprise that the kindergartner wants to help others when she grows up.
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A young boy with celiac finds support at Children's Health
Caleb is a joyful 6-year-old who loves LEGO, all-things-Disney and his dog Sebastian. He wants to be a firefighter when he grows up so he can help people, and his mom, Sarah, a pediatrician, describes him as "one of the kindest people I've ever met." Like many other families, Caleb and his family enjoy pizza and movie nights most weekends with just one exception – Caleb's homemade pizza is gluten free, a necessity since he was diagnosed three years ago with celiac disease.
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A little girl with celiac disease finds healing through changes in her diet
Hadley had always experienced trouble sleeping and intermittent stomach pain, but it never really concerned her pediatrician because she was still growing and gaining weight. However, by the time she turned 7 years old, her parents decided it was time to figure out what was going on. Her father had recently been diagnosed with celiac disease so Hadley's parents thought it was a good idea to rule it out, since the disease can be hereditary. They were living in Arizona at the time so they visited their local pediatric hospital for blood work and an endoscopy. Both confirmed that Hadley had celiac disease, just like her dad.
Read MoreMeet the care team
Children’s Health offers the only team in North Texas that focuses exclusively on the needs of children and teens with celiac disease and their families. We provide care and support in a kid- and family-friendly environment.
Michele Alkalay, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Phuong Luu, PA-CPhysician Assistant - Gastroenterology
Shabina Walji-Virani, APRN, PNP-PCNurse Practitioner - Gastroenterology
