Overview
Pediatric liver disease are syndromes and diseases that affect newborn babies, toddlers, and teenagers. Some pediatric liver diseases cause liver damage and require treatment, while others are less serious and require monitoring by the child’s pediatrician or a pediatric liver specialist. Some pediatric liver diseases are due to autoimmune problems. An autoimmune disease is one in which a person’s own immune system attacks a part of the body.
Genetic diseases, which are usually inherited from one or both parents but may be a new mutation. Many of these can be diagnosed in childhood. An example of a genetic pediatric liver disease is Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC).
Finally, an increasing condition that is occurring among children is Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, or NAFLD. Risks for NAFLD include overweight or obesity, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol/high triglycerides.
In this section, parents, teens and younger children can learn more about many liver diseases that can affect children
Pediatric Liver Disease
There are a variety of different diseases of the liver that can impact your child.
Parents
Learn the causes of liver failure in children, what to do if your child is diagnosed, and hear from families facing some of the same ups and downs.
Teen and Young Adults
Learn what your liver does and how to take care of it throughout your life. Topics include alcohol use, body art, diet, medications and more.
Kids
Your liver is a very important part of your body! Learn what is does, how to take care of it and find fun activities and videos to share with your friends.
Liver Terminology
This website makes use of many medical terms to describe the wide variety of liver conditions, diseases, diagnoses, treatments and support. This page provides answers to many of the terms you may be less familiar with.
Resources
- Got Transition® Download
- Medisafe | Medisafe
- MyMeds: Changing Healthcare with Real-Time Insights (my-meds.com)
Video Library
Find videos covering nutrition, transplant, specific liver diseases and more.
Biliary Atresia Support Group
Join the American Liver Foundation's supportive community for those affected by Biliary Atresia (BA). It is open to anyone connected to BA around the country. This community serves as a space to feel less alone, seek answers to your questions and find the strength for another day! It also allows you to stay updated with our webinar series and other special programs.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/alf.ba.families
Committee Members
ALF committee members consist of parents, doctors and patients who have a firsthand experience with Biliary Atresia.
- Ahmad Anouti, MD
Postdoctoral research fellow at the Digestive Diseases Department, UT Southwestern
Born with biliary atresia and underwent a liver transplant at the age of 16. - Allan Doerr
ALF Board of Directors
Parent of child with Biliary Atresia - Jeffrey Doerr
Transplant recipient - Liz Leesman
ALF Board of Directors
Parent of child with Biliary Atresia who was a transplant recipient in 2007. - Raphael Kellner
Transplant Recipient - Alisha Mavis, MD
Transplant Hepatologist - Tom Nealon
Former ALF CEO
ALF Board of Directors - Ellen Rucker Sellers
ALF Board of Directors
Parent of child who was a liver transplant recipient.
Presenting Sponsor
Last updated on May 9th, 2023 at 03:54 pm