Christus Health: The Children's Hospital of San Antonio

11 Forever First | Spring 2015 • To find a doctor, call 1.877.250.DOCS. 11 Ear infections, a common childhood problem, are typically caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the middle ear. Often the infection starts as a sore throat or cold and migrates to the ear canal. Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed medications for an ear infection. If a child has frequent infections, referral to a specialist may be needed. "The first step for correcting chronic ear infections is the placement of ear tubes," says Lisa Buckmiller, MD, section head of Pediatric ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio and associate professor, Department of Otolaryngology (ENT), Baylor College of Medicine. "It's one of the most common procedures in the United States, and it helps decrease the number of infections, pain, and the need for oral antibiotics." ALL EARS AND MORE Whether for chronic ear infections or a more complex medical condition, pediatric ENT care at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio brings together a team of audiologists, nurses, physicians, and more. "When children have complex ENT conditions, we have access to many different specialties that may be necessary in treating our patients," Dr. Buckmiller says. "We can handle high-level cases because of this team approach." Crying, fever, fluid from the ear — even if your child is too young to tell you what's wrong, all signs point to an ear infection. What can you do? You don't want to ignore your child's pain, but you also don't want to overreact to common abdominal pain that should pass quickly. Stomach pain in children may be caused by a wide variety of problems, including: • Anxiety or depression • Appendicitis • Constipation • Food allergy or intolerance • Food poisoning or stomach virus • Gallstones or biliary tract problems • Gas • Inflammatory bowel disease • Urinary tract infection If pain lasts more than 24 hours or is accompanied by fever or blood in the stool, seek medical help right away, as it could be a medical emergency. NARROWING THE CAUSE Experienced emergency medicine and gastroenterology experts at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio provide specialized care to solve stomach pain issues. "We are proud to provide gastrointestinal care in the heart of the community," says Lucy McLoughlin, MD, chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio and professor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine. "We see the pediatric problems that aren't as common in adult patients, so we can provide the specialized experience that children need without families having to travel long distances." It happens to all children — one minute, they are happy and playing, the next they complain of feeling sick in their belly. TACKLING TUMMY TROUBLES WHEN HEARING HURTS To find a gastroenterologist for your child, call 1.877.250.DOCS (3627). To find out more about ENT at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio, visit chofsa.org/ent. Lucy McLoughlin, MD Lisa Buckmiller, MD

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