Celiac Disease Clinic
The Celiac Disease Clinic diagnoses celiac disease in children and provides follow-up care to ensure they are sticking to a gluten-free diet. Children and their families are also referred to a celiac disease nutritionist for nutritional counseling and medical nutrition therapy services, and the child’s growth and other nutritional parameters are monitored over time.
Kimberly Newton, M.D., Clinic Director, is also affiliated with the Wm. K. Warren Medical Research Center for Celiac Disease. The mission of the Center is to:
- Advance the knowledge of celiac disease pathogenesis and to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic advances.
- Increase the medical and local community’s knowledge about celiac disease.
- Provide expert clinical care services to optimize health and quality of life in patients with celiac disease.
For more information about the Wm. K. Warren Medical Research Center for Celiac Disease, visit http://celiaccenter.ucsd.edu.
About Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune inflammatory condition of the small intestine that occurs after ingestion of gluten (a dietary protein found in wheat, rye and barley) in certain genetically susceptible individuals. The disease affects one in 133 people in the United States.
Symptoms of celiac disease in children may include abdominal discomfort and distention, diarrhea, poor growth, and irritability. However, celiac disease can also be associated with problems outside of the gastrointestinal tract, such as anemia, short stature and delayed puberty. The only known effective treatment for celiac disease is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. It is crucial to diagnose celiac disease as early as possible and begin the gluten-free diet to prevent complications of untreated celiac disease from occurring, such as infertility, osteoporosis and cancer.