At the Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Gelsenkirchen, Dr. Christiane Schmidt-Blecher specializes in two special areas of outpatient and inpatient care. In her department for pediatric gastroenterology and pediatric vascular malformations, the senior physician treats children with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and children with congenital vascular malformations such as port-wine stains and haemangiomas. “In this combination, the department represents a special feature in the hospital landscape,” says Dr. Christiane Schmidt-Blecher. The treatment takes place on an outpatient basis in the consultation hours, but also as an inpatient.
More than just a stomach rumble
“If children vomit constantly and have massive problems eating, they are put on special and tube feeding on the ward. If there is a suspicion of cow’s milk intolerance, inpatient diagnosis is also advisable in difficult cases. With the radiology and laboratory at Bergmannsheil Buer, we have a comprehensive diagnostic infrastructure,” emphasizes the gastroenterologist and pediatric nutritionist. Unclear abdominal pain, chronic constipation, and constant diarrhea are symptoms that should be clarified. “In the case of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, I examine the child endoscopically with instruments suitable for children. We also offer a psychological assessment in the clinic. Many diseases of the digestive tract have an unfavorable effect on the thriving and growth of the affected children. In this they differ from the diseases of adults.”
Port-wine stains – not all are harmless
In the case of congenital port wine stains (naevus flammeus), Dr. Christiane Schmidt-Blecher reassure most of the parents in the outpatient clinic: “The reddish spots on the baby’s upper eyelids, in the neck or in the middle of the forehead are symmetrical port-wine stains. They often appear and go away on their own in the first few years of life.” However, asymmetric port-wine stains do not go away on their own. They can be just a few millimeters in size or extend over entire parts of the body – “as the child grows, the birthmark also grows. The color of the mark usually increases in intensity, which is an additional burden. Without treatment, the malformation will remain for life. This is a strong psychological burden that has a decisive influence on the personal development of the child.” The specialist in pediatric surgery and pediatric medicine uses laser treatment for vascular malformations.
Early diagnosis of hemangiomas
Blood sponges are also very common in newborns. They are caused by a benign growth on the innermost vessel wall and usually grow quickly. The same applies here: The choice of the appropriate therapy is always a case-by-case decision and tailored to each child. “An early presentation of the child helps to determine the optimal time for the start of drug therapy, for example with propranolol,” says pediatrician Dr. Schmidt-Blecher, “after a careful diagnosis, there are many painless methods to make the haemangiomas disappear.”
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