peytonmanning.stvincent.org Pediatric Sept/Oct 2012 Perspectives Medical Perspectives for Indiana’s Children Numbers to Know One-Call Transfer (Newborn and Pediatric Transport) 317.338.5000 Gastroesophageal Reflux Concerns in Infants By Cheryl Little, MD Physician Referral Line 866.788.3627 Irritability and spitting up are common to virtually every infant at some time in their first months of life. These symptoms are occasionally first indications of more serious conditions of esophagitis resulting from pathologic gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Hospitalist on Call 317.338.3550 pager ID 8564 Hilbert Pediatric Emergency Department 317.338.4366 Administrator: Anne Coleman, RN 317.415.7777 Physician Liaison: Kelly Volk 317.313.7303 Please send your comments, questions or suggestions for future issues of Pediatric Perspectives to Hollie Adams at [email protected]. Infants presenting with reflux symptoms may be treated initially with one or more standard approaches: Dr. Little is a board certified pediatric gastroenterologist. She completed her pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. She completed her residency and internship at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. She is currently accepting new patients at the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. For patient referrals, call (317) 338-9450. • Thickening the feeding with rice cereal or over-thecounter thickeners • Positioning the baby upright for 30 minutes after feeding • Smaller and more frequent feedings • Prescription H2 blockers such as Zantac, to reduce acid content If these treatments do not improve the symptoms within a few weeks, a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist is appropriate. There are several key indicators that an infant is suffering from something more serious than the degree of gastroesophageal reflux common to many babies. When these indicators are present, a referral is also appropriate: • Refusal to feed • Arching or crying when feeding • Vomiting or spitting up 1 – 2 hours post-feeding • Poor weight gain or weight loss • Acute dehydration • Malnutrition • Blood in vomit or stool • Bile in vomit Continued on page 6 white T H E S P I R I T O F C A R I N G®. . . f o r k i d s black T H E S P I R I T O F C A R I N G®. . . f o r k i d s PMS 302 1 Dear Colleagues, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent welcomes the following pediatric specialists to our health ministry: Anne Coleman, RN Administrator Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent and St.Vincent Women’s Hospital Paul W. Halczenko, MD, Pediatric Intensivist, joins us from Florida Pediatrics Associates in Orlando. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. Paul completed a combined internal medicine-pediatrics residency at the University of Rochester and a combined adult-pediatric critical care fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 317.338.1433 Babak Salimi, MD, Pediatric Intensivist, is a graduate of St. George’s School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He earned a master’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago in biology/immunology. Babak completed his pediatric critical care fellowship at Kosair Children’s Hospital – University of Louisville, Louisville, KY. He completed his pediatric residency at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. 317.338.1433 Cheryl Little, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, has joined the practice of Pediatric Gastroenterology Center. She is a graduate of the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo, and completed her fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. Cheryl is board certified in pediatric GI, and her practice focus is functional abdominal disorders and liver disease. 317.338.9450 Jared Mott, DO, Pediatric Neurologist, is a recent clinical neurophysiology (epilepsy) fellow at the University of Michigan, with prior fellowship in pediatric neurology at U of M. He completed his pediatric residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. Jared is a graduate of Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM) in Vallejo, CA. He has joined the Pediatric Neurology practice with Drs. Lisa McGuire and James Pappas. 317.338.1600 Amanda Paschal, MSN, RN, CPNP, CPON, CPN, Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, has joined Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent. Amanda is a board certified pediatric nurse practitioner; she holds a master’s degree in nursing from Indiana University. 317.338.4673 Jonathan H. Wilhite, MD, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, returns to Indiana from his pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship at Orlando Health’s Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. He is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he completed his surgical residency program. Jonathan also received a master’s degree in exercise physiology from IU-Bloomington. He has joined the practice of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons of Indiana. 317.338.7674 Be sure to read the information on the back cover about the upcoming Fall Pediatric CME conference on Oct. 3. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn and earn CME credits. This Issue The issue of Pediatric Perspectives focuses on several medical problems common to infants and toddlers. Our pediatric specialists are experts in their field and work diligently to provide the highest quality individualized patient care. Thank you for the trust you place in us as your partner in pediatric care. Pediatric Perspectives September/October 2012 2 866.788.3627 Asthma in Infancy: Managing the Uncertainty Principle By Dr. Olatunji Williams Dr. Williams will present “Asthma Management” at the annual pediatric conference on Oct. 3. Although asthma can present in infancy, confirming the diagnosis is difficult in infants and toddlers, as the majority of children will experience resolution of their symptoms by 3–4 years of age. The reasons for this are not fully known but are likely related to the relatively smaller airways of infants in comparison to older children and their developing immune system. Recurrent coughing and wheezing in the first year of life is one of the most common reasons for referral of infants to a pediatric pulmonologist. And with good reason, because although asthma does present in infancy so does a myriad of “asthma mimics” such as congenital airway anomalies, chronic aspiration and severe gastroesophageal reflux disease. Peer reviewed research studies (most notably the Tucson Children’s Respiratory Study, University of Arizona, 2002) have indicated positive predictors or risk factors for the development of asthma in young children presenting with recurrent coughing in infancy. The positive predictors of asthma, with the first two being the most commonly relied upon, are: • A family history in first-degree relatives (parents or siblings) • Another allergy, with eczema being the greatest risk factor • Eosinophilia, a marker for atopic diseases, as identified by blood test When evaluating young children with recurrent coughing and wheezing who do not have these positive risk factors for asthma, it is prudent to consider asthma mimics early. Treatment of symptoms is the priority for any child presenting with respiratory distress. For recurrent coughing and wheezing, the most common treatment is albuterol as needed to relax the airways and relieve symptoms. This happens also to be the most common treatment for asthma. If a child does not improve with treatment, further diagnostic evaluation is required. An infant or toddler should never be described as having “poorly controlled asthma” without further evaluation. Referral to a pediatric pulmonologist should be considered for the following: • A child less than 12 months old who does not respond promptly to traditional treatment for wheezing • A child has recurrent symptoms in the absence of any of the asthma risk factors listed above • Recurrent respiratory symptoms starting at birth or in the first month of life Dr. Williams is a board certified pediatric pulmonologist. He completed his pediatric pulmonology fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. His pediatric residency was at The Children’s Hospital – University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma City, where he was chief resident. He is currently accepting new patients at the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. For patient referrals or consultations, call 317-338-2825. Pediatric Perspectives September/October 2012 3 866.788.3627 Allergies in Early Childhood What About Probiotics? By Frank Wu, MD For the estimated more than 23 million Americans who have some type of allergy, many allergies first appeared during infancy or childhood. The Atopic (Allergic) March Allergists refer to the “Atopic (or Allergic) March,” which describes the natural or typical progression of allergic diseases that often begin in early childhood. These include atopic dermatitis (eczema), food allergies, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), and asthma. Eczema and food allergies typically appear first, often beginning the first three to 12 months of life, and reaching their highest prevalence during the first two years of life. They often precede the development of allergic rhinitis, the most common of all childhood allergies, and asthma. Eczema and certain food allergies are often outgrown or show improvement during the preschool years. Allergic rhinitis, other food allergies, and allergy-associated asthma tend to persist, although this type of asthma may improve. The severity of allergies in early childhood may predict the persistence and progression of allergy in later life. Identifying Triggers Identifying the patient’s allergy symptom triggers, usually using skin prick testing, is most important to determining effective treatment. Symptoms may be diminished simply by avoiding or reducing exposure to the identified triggers, whether they are certain foods, environmental exposure (e.g., mold, dust, pet dander, pollen), drugs or topical substances. Current medications are highly effective in treating allergy symptoms. Despite the best medication and environmental control, sometimes patients need immunotherapy (allergy shots). If needed, treatment with allergy shots is recommended for children ages six and older. When to Refer Early intervention may offer better outcomes for children with allergies. An allergist/immunologist can provide expert consultation for a number of diseases and conditions, which can be divided into two categories: • Allergies and allergy-associated diseases commonly followed by primary care physicians or other specialists. These include asthma, rhinitis/ conjunctivitis, chronic sinusitis, urticaria and angioedema, and atopic dermatitis (eczema). • Conditions in which an allergy or immunology consultation is usually necessary for definitive diagnosis and treatment. These include anaphylaxis, food/drug/ latex allergy, and frequent infections in which immune deficiency is suspected. Dr. Wu completed his specialty training at the National Jewish Hospital for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Colorado at Denver. He is a graduate of the College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, and completed his internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, and his residency at the University of Chicago. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. For patient referrals, call 317.872.4213. Pediatric Perspectives September/October 2012 4 The debate about the efficacy of probiotics, ingestible live bacteria (micro flora), is currently receiving much attention. The theory behind their use is that supplementation with healthy bacteria causes favorable colonization in the intestine, which can alleviate symptoms or prevent certain conditions such as diarrhea, food allergies, eczema and bacterial overgrowth. In its clinical report, “Probiotics and Prebiotics in Pediatrics,” published in the December 2010 issue of Pediatrics magazine, the American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed clinical evidence surrounding the use of probiotics for children. In brief, they reported: • In otherwise healthy children and infants, administering probiotics early in the course of diarrhea from acute viral gastroenteritis can reduce its duration by one day • Probiotics have been found to be modestly effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in otherwise healthy children • There is some evidence to support the use of probiotics to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in infants with a birth weight of more than 1000g • Probiotics added to infant formula and other foods marketed for use in children do not appear to be harmful to healthy infants and children. According to the AAP, the overall health-benefit efficacy of adding probiotics to infant formula remains to be demonstrated in large randomized controlled trials While there is encouraging evidence and much enthusiasm for probiotics being a “natural” treatment, definitive data about their long-term use are needed. The long-term health benefits of probiotics in the prevention of cancer, allergy or other diseases or the ability to provide sustained beneficial results on the developing immune system beyond early infancy, remain to be proven. Continuing research is needed to answer these questions: • Can probiotics enhance natural immunity in infants and children? • Can probiotics prevent or mitigate allergic diseases? • Are they safe in the long term? Caution is advised when purchasing probiotic supplements to determine the type and quantity of live bacteria, the optimal dosage, and the quality control used in manufacturing the product. 866.788.3627 Cora’s Law: Enacted to Save Newborns By Robert Jansen, MD, Neonatologist Since Jan. 1, 2012, all birthing facilities in Indiana are required by state law to perform pulse oximetry newborn screening to detect critical congenital heart defect (CCHD). Senate Bill 0552, also known as Cora’s Law, was named for 5-dayold Cora Mae McCormick, who died suddenly on December 6, 2009, in her mother’s arms while breastfeeding. Cora’s mother, Kristine Brite McCormick, was motivated by this personal tragedy to try to make certain others’ lives might be saved. Kristine worked diligently for two years to share Cora’s story to raise awareness of CCHD, and with the help of State Senator Brent Waltz, her efforts were rewarded with passage of the newborn screening law. Saving Lives: Baby Gabriel’s Story Already, the newly required screening has prompted intervention for serious medical complications and saved lives, including the life of Baby Gabriel, born in February in Jasper, Indiana. Gabriel, a seemingly healthy full-term baby, received the pulse oximetry screening on his second day of life. After failing the screening, Gabriel was diagnosed with a critical coarctation of the aorta. The St.Vincent Critical Care Transport Team transported him to St.Vincent Women’s Hospital NICU for corrective surgery. Gabriel’s mother Sharon said of Cora’s law, “…the law was implemented the first of January. If Gabriel had been born a month earlier, we might not have him.” Critical Congenital Heart Defect (CCHD) • Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect. • Approximately six to eight of every 1,000 infants born have significant heart defects and about half of these babies will require treatment within their first year of life. • Prenatal ultrasounds may detect only 28% of all defects. • Newborn physical exams may detect 50% of babies with heart problems. • Prenatal ultrasounds and newborn physical exams – combined with pulse oximetry screening – may allow detection of up to 92% of babies with significant defects. • Indiana was the second state in the nation to adopt CCHD screening as part of the statemandated newborn screening panel (IC 1641-17-2). • Refer to the Indiana State Department of Health section on Congenital Heart Defect Screening and a downloadable form of the algorithm at: http://www.in.gov/isdh/25250.htm • Also see The Children’s National Toolkit on Congenital Heart Defect Screening at: http:// www.childrensnational.org/PulseOx/ request-tool-kit.aspx Proactive Practice For the past five years, St.Vincent Women’s Hospital has been performing pulse oximetry screenings for CCHD on newborns in the Newborn Nursery and Continuing Care Nursery. To date, the screening has detected four babies whose CCHD otherwise may not have been detected until too late. Infants with saturation <90% in the right hand or foot are immediately referred for clinical assessment. Infants with three failed readings – defined as oxygen saturation measurements <95% in both extremities or >3% difference between both extremities – also receive a clinical assessment and additional testing by a pediatric cardiologist. St.Vincent Women’s Hospital is one of only two centers in Indiana with pediatric cardiac surgeons who specialize in the surgical repair of congenital heart defects. Robert D. Jansen, MD, is medical director of Neonatal Intensive Care at St.Vincent Women’s Hospital. A graduate of Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Dr. Jansen completed his fellowship at Northwestern University Hospitals. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatric Perspectives September/October 2012 5 866.788.3627 Mark Your Calendar! 13th Annual Fall Pediatric CME Conference Wednesday, October 3, 2012 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Ritz Charles in Carmel • This continuing medical education activity has been reviewed and has been designated acceptable for the following: - American Academy of Pediatrics – 6.5 AAP credits - St.Vincent Hospital and Healthcare Center – 7.0 AMA PRA category 1 credits TM - American Academy of Family Physicians – 7.0 AAFP credits - St.Vincent Hospital and Healthcare Center – 7.0 Continuing Nursing Education contact hours • Increase your knowledge of issues and advances in selected pediatric subspecialties – presentations include: - Newborn Update John Wareham, MD, Neonatologist - ENT Updates for the General Pediatric Office Chris Miyamoto, MD, Pediatric Otolaryngologist - Pediatric Gastroenterology Susan Maisel, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterologist - Social Media in Practice Alex Djuricich, MD - Asthma Management Olatunji Williams, MD, Pediatric Pulmonologist - Concussion Management David Harsha, MD, Sports Medicine - Infectious Disease Update Chris Belcher, MD, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist • Visit with pediatric health care exhibitors • Network with colleagues The conference is geared for the primary care provider. Cost: $115 for MDs, NPs and PAs; $75 for RNs and LPNs. Residents are free. To register, or for more information call 338-CARE (2273) or visit mdevents.stvincent.org. Gastroesophageal reflux (continued from page 1) GER typically presents in the first two months of life and the severity of symptoms peaks between 6 and 9 months. Diagnosis is often by an upper endoscopy (EGD) to evaluate the esophagus lining. When severe inflammation or ulceration is identified, a coating treatment may be prescribed. Other treatments for reflux in children may include Reglan or low-dose Erythromycin, which improves gastrointesinal motility. Severe cases may progress to the need for a gastrointestinal feeding tube or surgery. However, these treatments are used only when standard medical treatments fail. Children are followed closely, and typically at about 1 year of age, a careful weaning from medications will demonstrate whether the symptoms have resolved. Pediatric Perspectives September/October 2012 6 866.788.3627
© Copyright 2024