Celiac Disease Program

Children’s National Hospital is helping to improve the way pediatric celiac disease is diagnosed and treated. Working in partnership with concerned members of our community, our Celiac Disease Program and Multidisciplinary Celiac Disease Clinic bring together a team of expert physicians, nurse practitioners, nutritional consultants and psychologists dedicated to developing a national model for detecting and treating celiac disease in children.

Our Providers

Our pediatric specialists provide personalized care for your child’s physical, mental and emotional health needs.

Meet the team

Multidisciplinary Celiac Disease Clinic

At one appointment, you can meet with a gastroenterologist, the clinic's dietitian, education team and psychologist.

Clinic information Appointments

Choosing Children's National for Celiac Care

Our goal is to attack celiac disease aggressively through improved diagnosis, treatment and awareness, using a five-pronged approach featuring:

State-of-the-art clinical care
Meeting psychological needs
Education and training of healthcare professionals
Community outreach and advocacy
Research

Learn more about our program.

What You Need to Know About Celiac

Celiac disease is a genetic, autoimmune digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. About one in 100 people has celiac disease, making it one of the most common conditions in children.

People who have celiac disease are permanently intolerant to gluten, a protein found in all forms of wheat, rye and barley. When ingested by affected individuals, an autoimmune reaction causes inflammation and damage to the nutrient-absorbing villi in the small intestine. Children with celiac disease are also at increased risk of experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and ADHD, as well as poorer quality of life.

If left unchecked, damage can occur in nearly every system in the body, such as:

Skeletal
Reproductive
Neurological
Dermatologic

Sources of Gluten in Our Environment

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and all of their derivatives. Gluten goes by many names on food labels. Although gluten is mainly found in food, it can also be found in non-food products like medications, vitamins, hand sanitizers, art supplies and cosmetic products such as lotion and lipstick. Gluten must be ingested in order to cause a celiac-related reaction, so please refer to our Non-Food Sources of Gluten (PDF) handout for guidance on these products.

Our Collaborations

We work with providers in the following programs at Children's National to provide the best care possible for your child:

Celiac Disease Treatment

Conditions We Treat

Understanding your child's condition is an important step on your treatment journey. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and diagnosis for celiac disease, as well as unique treatments and research being performed at Children's National.

Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease Referral Guidelines

Consult the guidelines to assess when to refer to the Celiac Disease Program.

View guidelines

Locations

Main Hospital

111 Michigan Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20010

1-888-884-2327

Emergency Department Info

Specialty Care

Montgomery County

9850 Key West Avenue Rockville, Maryland 20850

301-765-5400

301-294-0897

Specialty Care

All Celiac Disease Program Locations

PATIENT STORY

Maia's Story

little girl excited about eating pancakes

Oatmeal Banana Bread on a white plate next to bananas and sunflowers

Gluten-Free Podcasts

The Gluten-Free Guide is a podcast series produced by the Celiac Disease Program at Children's National. It features guests from around the world who provide commentary and answer listener questions about living with celiac disease and managing a gluten-free lifestyle.

See podcast episodes

Celiac Cookbook

A gluten-free diet shouldn’t mean less flavor. After years of experimenting with celiac-friendly meals and goodies, the Children’s National Hospital Celiac Disease Program has gathered a compilation of gluten-free recipes to share with your family and friends.

Gluten-Free Diet App

Our gluten-free diet app provides a cohesive set of high-quality educational materials to patients and families living with celiac disease or a gluten-related condition in order to help with living a safe, nutritious and tasty gluten-free lifestyle.

Learn more about the app

Celiac Disease Newsletter

For more information on celiac disease, sign up to receive our Celiac Disease Digest, which provides helpful information for patients with the autoimmune disorder.