Children's Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) is a UK

charity Charity may refer to: Common meanings * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sha ...

taking action against the effects of childhood

liver disease Liver disease, or hepatic disease, is any of many diseases of the liver. If long-lasting it is termed chronic liver disease. Although the diseases differ in detail, liver diseases often have features in common. Liver diseases File:Ground gla ...

, providing information, emotional support, research funds and a voice for all affected. CLDF was founded in 1980 by the parents of a little boy named Michael McGough, who died before be could receive a

liver transplant Liver transplantation or hepatic transplantation is the replacement of a Liver disease, diseased liver with the healthy liver from another person (allograft). Liver transplantation is a treatment option for Cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and ...

. The name was later changed to Children's Liver Disease Foundation. Today the charity works in four main areas, support of families and young people affected by childhood liver disease, funding medical and social research into all aspects of childhood liver disease and education, providing educational services to the general public and the medical profession and providing a voice for all affected by childhood liver disease. The charity works closely with the three UK specialist paediatric liver centres: Birmingham Children's Hospital, King's College Hospital, London and Leeds General Infirmary. CLDF provides support to families and young people affected by childhood liver disease, including an ‘on-call’ telephone and email service and face to face meetings with parents and young people at hospitals and clinics. The charity has also developed a range of literature for families, young people and healthcare professionals. CLDF's literature series includes a medical series, with leaflets on the main liver diseases affecting children (

biliary atresia Biliary atresia, also known as extrahepatic ductopenia and progressive obliterative cholangiopathy, is a childhood disease of the liver in which one or more bile ducts are abnormally narrow, blocked, or absent. It can be congenital or acquired. ...

alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD or AATD) is a genetic disorder that may result in lung disease or liver disease. Onset of lung problems is typically between 20 and 50 years of age. This may result in shortness of breath, wheezing, or an inc ...

autoimmune hepatitis Autoimmune hepatitis, formerly known as lupoid hepatitis, plasma cell hepatitis, or autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the liver that occurs when the body's immune system attacks liver cells, causing the liv ...

hepatitis A Hepatitis A is an infectious liver disease caused by Hepatitis A virus (HAV); it is a type of viral hepatitis. Many cases have few or no symptoms, especially in the young. The time between infection and symptoms, in those who develop them, is ...

hepatitis B Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the '' hepatitis B virus'' (HBV) that affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. It can cause both acute and chronic infection. Many people have no symptoms during an initial infection. ...

hepatitis C Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. During the initial infection period, people often have mild or no symptoms. Early symptoms can include ...

Wilson's disease Wilson's disease (also called hepatolenticular degeneration) is a genetic disorder characterized by the excess build-up of copper in the body. Symptoms are typically related to the brain and liver. Liver-related symptoms include vomiting, wea ...

etc.) CLDF has also produced a

nutrition Nutrition is the biochemistry, biochemical and physiology, physiological process by which an organism uses food and water to support its life. The intake of these substances provides organisms with nutrients (divided into Macronutrient, macro- ...

series, a support series for families and information written especially for children and young people. CLDF also provides the paediatric

units with a series of leaflets on transplantation to accompany the paediatric liver transplant programme. __TOC__

Yellow Alert campaign

CLDF's prolonged jaundice awareness campaign, ''Yellow Alert'' aims to promote the early identification and appropriate referral of babies with prolonged

jaundice Jaundice, also known as icterus, is a yellowish or, less frequently, greenish pigmentation of the skin and sclera due to high bilirubin levels. Jaundice in adults is typically a sign indicating the presence of underlying diseases involving ...

– a sign of possible liver disease.

References

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External links

Children's Liver Disease Foundation website
Diseases of liver Foundations based in England Foundations based in the United Kingdom Medical and health foundations Organizations established in 1980 Organizations for children with health issues Charities based in Birmingham, West Midlands Charities based in the West Midlands (county)