Three Reasons I Needed a Children’s Hospital

Meg Hawley, Social Media Specialist, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio

I did not know I needed a children’s hospital. Sure, I work for a children’s hospital, but my family did not need one – or did we? My daughter, Mary Cameron, just needed tubes in her ears to alleviate the chronic and painful ear infections she was experiencing. It’s a simple procedure that takes about 10 minutes.

Did I ever think I would need a children’s hospital? My baby was not born with a complex heart condition; my teenager was not diagnosed with a rare disorder; and I didn’t have a high-risk pregnancy that would require the most advanced care for me or my baby.

It turns out, we did indeed need a children’s hospital. Children, all children, need a children’s hospital. You could even argue that parents need one just as much as the kids do.

A child life specialist introduces Mary Cameron to a mask like the one that would be used to put her to sleep before her ear tube surgery. Child life specialists are available in the pre-op area to help children experience less anxiety leading up to their surgery.

I was telling a friend about Mary Cameron’s ear tube procedure and how everything went so smoothly. Her son would soon need the same operation and she wanted to know what to expect. I immediately realized there were three things that made the process less scary and gave me comfort as a mom: A pediatric anesthesiologist, a visit with a Child Life Specialist to practice with the sedation mask, and a little car she got to “drive” into the operating room so that she was completely distracted and unconcerned when I had to kiss her head and say, “See you later.”

As I talked with my friend, I realized she may not have access to these child-friendly features in the town where she lives. These are very specific attributes and they don’t exist everywhere. Adult hospitals and surgery centers may not have these services but you can find them all in a children’s hospital. I quickly realized, yes, my family actually needed a children’s hospital.

@thechildrenshospitalsa

Yes, the cars some of our patients drive in to surgery are ADORABLE and fun but they serve a purpose. Play is a universal language and our #ChildLifeSpecialist and #ornurse use tools like these SWEET RIDES to help them feel a little more normal when headed off to a procedure! #childrenshospital #sanantonio #surgery #toddlersoftiktok

♬ original sound – dinda_smr – dinda_smr

A nurse pushed Mary Cameron down the hallway leading to the operating room. Driving the little pink car to the OR was the highlight of her day at the hospital. Follow us on TikTok for more fun videos featuring cute kids, amazing doctors, and talented Associates!

The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is “the city’s first and only free-standing children’s hospital.” As part of the CHRISTUS communications team, I have written that phrase more than a few hundred times. While I sat in recovery with my loopy 2-year-old, coming out of anesthesia, enjoying her post-op Popsicle, I realized that I may never associate what that truly means as a mere marketing catch phrase. From now on, it will feel like a promise. A promise to me, Mary Cameron, and the rest of San Antonio that children always come first within this building and that’s why a children’s hospital is essential in every community.

Everything for our children.

Seven Reasons to Take Your Child to the ER

Jendi Haug, M.D., Emergency Services Physician

Sometimes it is easy to know when to go to the ER – a broken bone or a cut that needs stitches. But often parents struggle with the decision of whether to take their child to the ER for other reasons.

The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio now has three emergency centers just for children. They are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all weekends and all holidays.

Pediatric ERs are special emergency rooms that treat children from birth until age 17. The nursing staff, advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners and physician associates, and physicians understand that children are not just little adults. Children have their own unique physiology that is different from adults.  Their illnesses and injuries are oftentimes not treated in the same manner as an adult with similar symptoms.  In a medical emergency, your child needs to see a doctor who only specializes in treating children.

At The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, we know children are not little adults. They require the expert care of doctors and nurses specially trained in emergency pediatric medicine. Taking a wagon ride to get an X-ray is just one way we ease a child’s fears!

Here are some examples of major and minor instances when you should go directly to your nearest pediatric emergency room:

1. Newborn with a fever: Any infant 30 days old or younger with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher needs medical attention. No matter how you take the baby’s temperature (armpit, forehead, frontal sensors, or rectally), a temperature of 100.4 warrants an assessment by a physician or APP.  Infants born premature or with underlying medical conditions are at an even higher risk of serious infection and should continue to come in even at older ages.
2. Difficulty breathing:  Abnormal breath sounds like wheezing or stridor can be associated with bronchiolitis or croup or pneumonia. They can be scary and cause kids to breathe fast. Kids may start working to breath- belly breathing, sucking in the skin between their ribs or refusing to lie down. These are worrisome symptoms and need to be immediately evaluated.
3. Extremity or bony deformity:  When there is an obvious deformity along with swelling or pain, they should be seen that same day for assessment of any possible fracture or dislocation.
4. Abnormal/unusual behavior or altered mental status: You know your child and are the best gauge of your child’s behavior and their typical baseline. If something is not quite right, they need to see a medical provider for a complete evaluation.
5. Open wounds not healing on their own: Wounds can be common for kids after a fall or other injury.  Wounds that are large enough to be considered lacerations should be repaired soon in order to obtain better wound healing and less scarring. In addition, good cleaning and irrigation will help to prevent infections.
6. Prolonged vomiting and diarrhea: Infants and young toddlers can rapidly become dehydrated, so even a few hours of symptoms can make them sick.  Lack of a good amount of wet diapers or failure to urinate for a prolonged amount of time is a worrisome sign of dehydration for any child.
7. Fainting or seizure activity: These symptoms should be assessed by a physician or advanced practice provider to determine why these episodes might be happening, especially if they are frequent or prolonged occurrences. A trip to the ER is warranted if your child has not been previously evaluated for fainting or seizures by a pediatric cardiologist or neurologist. Sometimes these symptoms are harmless, but they could also be related to serious medical conditions.

While this list is not exhaustive, these are just a few reasons why your child might require a visit to one of our emergency rooms.  When available, discuss any questions you might have regarding the need for emergency care with your child’s pediatrician.

The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Emergency Center – Stone Oak is open and ready to help in any emergency medical situation.

To better meet the needs of our community, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio recently opened a freestanding emergency center in north-central San Antonio at 1434 E. Sonterra Boulevard, near Highway 281.

In 2015, we opened the city’s first freestanding children’s ER at Westover Hills located at 11130 CHRISTUS Hills, Medical Plaza 3 (located off Highway 151).

The main campus of The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is one of the largest pediatric emergency rooms in the city. It is located at 333 North Santa Rosa Avenue in the heart of downtown San Antonio.

At The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, we care deeply about the children in our community and want to help your child during a medical emergency. Please visit our website to learn more about our three emergency department locations.

Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

Araceli Elizalde, MD, Immunology Director
Allergy, Immunology, & Rheumatology, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine

May is Food Allergy Action and National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.

More than 50 million Americans suffer from environmental allergies and asthma.

Nasal allergies affect 10 percent to 30 percent of adults and up to 40 percent of children. Allergies can be seasonal, with symptoms brought on by sensitivity to pollen from trees, grasses or weeds, or to airborne mold spores. Sometimes, sensitivity to house dust mites, animal dander or cockroaches can trigger a reaction, called perennial allergic rhinitis.

An asthma attack is often triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust and animal dander, certain drugs and food additives or respiratory infections. Although the exact cause of asthma is unknown, many treatments are available to control this chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs.

In addition, two recently released large-scale studies of food allergy prevalence estimates 32 million Americans have food allergies. This number is more than double what we previously believed, reinforcing that food allergy is a problem of epidemic proportions.

Those suffering from allergies and asthma should be able to feel good and safe. No one should accept less.

In response to these alarming statistics, and in an effort to raise public awareness of the risks faced every day, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio offers these tips as part of Food Allergy Action and National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.

Here are some tips to help families living with allergies and asthma:

• Limit exposure or avoid the allergens that cause your allergy and asthma symptoms.
• Keep windows closed during pollen season, especially during the day. Take a shower, wash your hair, and change clothing after working or playing outdoors.
• To prevent asthma flare ups, stay away from smoke, dirt, gases and triggering odors.
• If you suffer from food allergy, read the label every time you buy a product, even if you’ve used that product before. Food ingredients in any given product may change.
• Cooking at home lets you prepare anything according to your food needs, so you can use healthier and safe ingredients that are familiar to you.
• Hand sanitizer does not remove food proteins, always use soap and water or wipes to clean hands or surfaces.
• Epinephrine is the only treatment for a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Work with your child’s health care team on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and how to treat it.
• Pay close attention to new food allergy treatment trends. Prospects for safe, effective treatments to prevent food allergy reactions have never been brighter, and the field of food allergy research is poised to deliver on its promise to find a cure.
• See an allergist for any allergy and asthma symptoms, to learn how to avoid potential triggers and for treatment recommendations.

Allergies and asthma are serious diseases. Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment can have serious health consequences. Board-certified allergists can perform allergy testing and treat allergic diseases effectively so that people with asthma or allergies can lead a healthy, active lifestyle. If your child needs to see a pediatric specialist for the diagnosis and treatment of allergies and asthma, please call 210.704.2187.

References:

Home

https://www.foodallergy.org

https://www.community.kidswithfoodallergies.org

Seven child-friendly foods to prevent constipation

By Elissa Gonzalez, MD
Medical Resident
Baylor College of Medicine

What is constipation?
Constipation is when a child does not poop more than a few times a week, has pain when pooping, or passes large or hard poop. Constipation can lead to encopresis, which is leaking of poop in the underwear which can lead to embarrassment and other psycho-social issues. Common times for constipation to occur are introduction of solids, toilet training and school entry.

How do we, as parents, prevent constipation?

• Sit on the toilet Remind your child to use the restroom after every meal to make room for more food. Sitting up straight can also aid in pooping.
• Fiber Introduce high fiber foods children will enjoy.
• Hydration Give them plenty of opportunity throughout the day to drink water.

Seven high fiber child-friendly foods:

• Popcorn An easy on-the-go snack. Avoid extra butter and sugar.
• Almonds Another easy snack.
• Dark Chocolate Look for cocoa content of between 70-95 percent or higher
• Oats Oatmeal is a quick breakfast. Add fruit such as raspberries.
• Lentils Cook them like your favorite beans.
• Avocados Mix into any dish such as eggs, brown rice, or tuna salad.
• Raspberries Pack these for an on-the-go snack.

How does constipation happen?
When a child eats food it goes from the mouth to the stomach then to the intestines. The body begins pulling water from stool so it becomes solid and waits in the rectum. Signals in the body tell the child there is poop in the rectum and they can decide to relax the muscle and go or hold on to it. Many children are embarrassed by the urge to poop and will hold it.

When the child decides to hold his poop it will sit in the rectum and the body will continue to pull water. It will become dry and hard and difficult to push out. Poop will continue to collect and stretch out the colon making the child lose the urge to use the restroom. The rectum is like a balloon and will go back to its original shape the first time it is stretched out, but if it continues to stretch, then it will be flabby and weak and the poop will build up.  It may take a year for some children to return to normal after treatment.

Already constipated?
Visit with your pediatrician. They may suggest prune juice, medications or even a bowel clean out depending on the severity of the constipation.

If you need a pediatrician for your child, visit www.chofsa.org/findadoc.

Is your child at risk for pneumonia?

By Alberto Carranza, MD
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
Walk-In Clinic Physician
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio

Co-Authored by
Ruchi Kaushik, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
Medical Director, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Blog

Winter (and the holidays!) are upon us, a time when families come together to eat, laugh, love, and, unfortunately, share germs. Most illnesses resolve quickly and easily on their own. Some children, however, will develop pneumonia this season. World Pneumonia Day is November 12 and below are a few tips for parents to recognize the signs of pneumonia and know when to seek medical care right away.

What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs.  The infection causes the lungs to fill with fluid or pus and results in cough with phlegm, fever, and changes in breathing.  These changes can be fast breathing, having to work harder to breathe, or shortness of breath.  Other symptoms include chest pain, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, decreased appetite or intake of fluids, and fatigue.  If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should seek medical care immediately.

Let’s get smart about antibiotics

By Luis Castagnini, MD
Section Chief, Department of Infectious Diseases
Baylor College of Medicine
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio

Co-Authored by
Ruchi Kaushik, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
Medical Director, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Blog

The discovery of antibiotics almost a century ago is considered one of the greatest medical advancements in human history. An infection considered minor today (i.e. infected wound or ear infection) was devastating or even fatal before 1928, when Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. This discovery allowed health care providers to treat and cure bacterial infections like pneumonia or skin infections in a relatively safe manner. These marvelous chemicals are now used routinely in medical practices all over the world and have changed the way we live our lives.

Unfortunately, during the last few decades, we have seen the rise of antibiotic resistance. The ability of bacteria to escape unharmed from the effects of these medications designed to kill them is now pervasive and a public health threat. Sir Alexander Fleming said it himself in 1945, shortly after he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine,

“The thoughtless person playing with penicillin treatment is morally responsible for the death of the man who succumbs to infection with the penicillin-resistant organism.”

Eight reasons you should take your child to a children’s ER

By Maria Perez-Johnson, D.O.
Emergency Physician

As a pediatric emergency physician, I am often asked by family and friends when they should go to the emergency room. As a caveat, I often reply whenever you feel you need to go – whether for reassurance of a minor ailment or for a more major emergency.  That’s why The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio has three emergency centers just for children that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all weekends and all holidays. We never close!

We understand that children are not just little adults. In an emergency, they need to see a doctor who treats children. We treat newborns all the way up to age 17. Adults and children can experience the same symptoms, but for children they could indicate a different or more serious condition. Here are some major and minor instances where you must go directly to your nearest emergency room:

1. Any newborn with a fever. This is a special and worrisome time for new babies. Any infant less than 28 days old with a temperature of 100.4 degrees needs medical attention. No matter how you take the baby’s temperature (armpit, forehead, frontal sensors, or rectally), a temperature of 100.4 warrants a complete and emergent assessment by a physician.

Seven facts about the flu

By Danielle Roberts, M.D.
Pediatric Resident, PGY2
Baylor College of Medicine
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio

7 Facts About the Flu

With the holidays just around the corner, many families are looking forward to fun-filled and quality family time. Whether it involves looking for the best deals, organizing elaborate feasts, or festively decorating homes, planning is key for a smooth and enjoyable time for all!

Along with these exciting times, unfortunately, also ‘tis the season for the flu virus. Being sick with this virus can affect precious family time, and you may have questions about how the virus can affect your loved ones. This blog will explain seven facts about the flu.

Three ways to relieve a stuffy nose

By Dr. Benjamin Moresco
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio
Baylor College of Medicine, Third Year Resident (PGY3)

Please note: the model used below is a specially designed manikin used by medical professionals to practice and demonstrate procedures.

Cold and flu season, fall allergies, and children getting settled back into school (and sharing lots of germs with each other) create the perfect combination for little ones to get stuffy noses. Runny noses are one thing, but even worse is the nasal congestion and sinus pain that can accompany a cold. What can parents and caregivers do at home to relieve a stopped-up nose and painful sinus pressure?

What you may not know is that many children who visit the Emergency Room (ER) during the fall and winter could have been cared for at home. In addition to the handy dandy bulb-syringe, there are some newer options available for families to help clear the nose and mouth of mucus. Be sure to remember two very important things: keep your child well hydrated and always use nasal saline before you suction.

Tips for treating and preventing diaper rash

By Dr. Theresa Willis
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Primary Care
Dominion Crossing

At one time or another, your baby will get diaper rash. First, check with your pediatrician and make sure that the rash isn’t something that needs to be treated by a doctor. Babies and toddlers in diapers can get fungal infections due to the frequently damp and warm area inside the diaper. Bacterial infections and other skin conditions such as eczema are also possibilities that your doctor will look for during an office visit.

If there are no other causes for your baby’s diaper rash, your doctor may tell you that he or she has diaper dermatitis. Diaper dermatitis is a general term used to describe an inflamed rash in the diaper area. It is thought to be caused by the mixing of stool and urine that decreases the pH and prolonged contact then leads to skin breakdown.

The rash can be very uncomfortable and lead to fussy babies and battles over diaper changes because it can be painful when the inflamed area is cleaned.