Find treatment and nutrition services for children with celiac disease

If your child has celiac disease, our team at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital can help them get treatment and adjust how they eat. 

We offer complete celiac disease and nutrition services to support every part of their health, including:  

• Celiac treatment for children, from toddlers to young adults.  
• Testing to better understand your child’s condition and confirm their diagnosis. 
• Gluten-free diet and nutritional guidance. 
• Support for physical, mental and social impacts on your child.  
• In-person and telemedicine clinical care options.  

What is pediatric celiac disease?

Celiac disease is the most common autoimmune disease in children. It causes the immune system to react to gluten by attacking and damaging the small intestine. The damage to the small intestine makes it hard for the body to absorb nutrients and may cause many other symptoms. The only way to treat your child’s celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet. 

Who gets celiac disease?

Celiac disease is hereditary, which means it is passed down to kids through genes. About 50% of people have one or both genes. Children with these genes may develop celiac disease as a child or later in life.  

What causes these genes to “turn on” and create celiac disease is the subject of intense research. Having a family member with celiac disease and/or a condition like Type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease and Trisomy 21, greatly increases lifetime risk for developing celiac disease. 

Celiac disease symptoms

Symptoms of celiac disease vary based on the age of your child. Symptoms may include:   

• Abdominal pain  
• Diarrhea  
• Constipation 
• Bloating 
• Poor growth 
• Fatigue 
• Skin rash (older children) 

Diagnosing pediatric celiac disease

Typically, testing for celiac disease starts with a blood test. If the blood test is elevated, then a pediatrician may refer your child to a pediatric gastroenterologist to discuss results and symptoms. It is important to NOT make dietary changes prior to this consultation.  

To confirm a celiac disease diagnosis, GI specialists may recommend an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and/or additional blood testing. Your child’s care team will work with you and your child to confirm the diagnosis before beginning treatment. 

Treatment for pediatric celiac disease

Celiac disease affects many parts of your child’s life. Following a strict gluten-free diet will help them manage symptoms. To treat their whole health, your child will receive care from our team of GI specialists, including a gastroenterologist, dietitian, psychologist and social worker.

Nutrition and mental health support

Gluten-free diet questions and mental health challenges often come with celiac disease. We can help your child: 

• Understand their diagnosis 
• Manage and treat symptoms 
• Discover gluten-free foods they like 
• Cope with social impacts 
• Set up support at school  
• Adjust to this condition long-term 

Clinical care appointments

You and your child can access clinical care in-person or via telemedicine. At the initial clinic visit, we will discuss your child’s celiac disease and how it’s impacting them and any changes to manage symptoms. 

Please contact us to request an appointment or ask questions.

• Call 503-346-0640

Resources for pediatric celiac disease

• Beyond Celiac: What Is Celiac Disease? 
• National Celiac Association: Links to support group information, including local and virtual chapters 
• Raising Our Celiac Kids (ROCK): Education and advocacy for children with celiac disease 
• The Celiac Disease Foundation: An overview of celiac disease