Childhood Liver Disease - The Facts

• At least two children are diagnosed with a liver disease every day in the UK.
• More Children in the UK are currently diagnosed with a liver disease than childhood leukaemia
• Most childhood liver diseases are life threatening; all mean a lifetime of care
• There are over 100 different liver diseases that can affect babies, children or young people
• For most childhood liver diseases the cause is unknown
• Liver disease has no cure
• CLDF is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to stamping out childhood liver disease

Details of 'Yellow Alert', CLDF's prolonged jaundice awareness campaign, can be found under the education programme tab, along with information on the functions of the liver and liver diseases affecting children.

Family Support

The support team at CLDF provides practical and emotional support to families affected by childhood liver disease according to individual needs.

The support service includes:

• CLDF Literature Service - providing a wide range of leaflets for families and young people including CLDF's medical, nutrition, bereavement and support series'
• CLDF On-Call - someone at the end of the phone and email whenever a family needs us
• CLDF Face2Face - CLDF support officers attend hospital clinics to meet with families. Families can also choose to meet with the support team at CLDF's offices in Birmingham
• e-talk - an online forum enabling families to ask questions and share experiences with others affected by childhood liver disease

CLDF's young persons support officer also provides a Face2Face programme for children and young people, and 'CLDF Time 4 U' - a confidential e-mail and telephone support line.