Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology, Pulmonology and Traumatology, Neuropediatrics and Pediatric Epileptology - HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal

About the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology, Pulmonology and Traumatology, Neuropediatrics and Pediatric Epileptology at HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal

The Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology, Pulmonology and Traumatology, Neuropediatrics and Pediatric Epileptology at the HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal offers all the possibilities of modern medicine for the diagnostics and treatment of young patients in the fields of its competence. The department provides medical care to children of all age groups – from infants to young children and adolescents. Together with the Department of Obstetrics, the medical facility forms the Level I Perinatal Center, which annually provides the necessary care to more than 60 premature babies, weighing less than 1500 g. The department's pediatricians often deal with the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, bladder, thyroid gland and nervous system, including epilepsy. Young patients with injuries of any severity receive high-quality emergency care that meets modern medical requirements. An important focus of the department's work is on the conservative treatment of lung and heart diseases in children. In addition, the department provides medical care to children with developmental delays and developmental disorders. Neurologists have vast experience in the treatment of epilepsy in young patients, and also have successful experience in the treatment of movement disorders, inflammatory diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, chronic headaches, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, congenital malformations of the brain and spinal cord. Depending on the particular clinical case, the treatment can be carried out both on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The medical facility has an excellent reputation and is awarded the prestigious quality certificate in the field of pediatrics in Germany – "Ausgezeichnet. Für Kinder!". Young patients and their parents can be confident that they will receive effective and safe treatment. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Wirth.

The department's doctors often admit young patients with common diseases, namely the pathologies of the digestive system, liver, urinary tract, hematopoietic system, as well as hormonal disorders, including growth disorders (short stature or gigantism) and thyroid diseases. When a child is admitted to the department, the specialists carry out a clinical examination, laboratory tests and instrumental diagnostics using ultrasound and X-ray. Endoscopic diagnostic procedures can also be performed, if necessary. After making an accurate diagnosis, doctors begin planning a course of treatment, which is usually based on the intake of medicines. The treatment regimen is prescribed individually, based on the clinical indications of the child, his age and other important aspects. Severe cases require hospitalization, but it is often possible to undergo outpatient treatment.

A specialized team of doctors with the appropriate qualifications take care of the work of the heart and respiratory system of children. Pediatric cardiology pays special attention to the provision of medical care to children with congenital and acquired heart defects, cardiac rhythm disturbances, infectious heart disease and arterial hypertension. Pediatric pulmonologists specialize in the treatment of acute and chronic lung diseases, including bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and cystic fibrosis. Young patients receive a thoroughly elaborated treatment plan with the use of modern medications aimed at relieving symptoms and normalizing the patient's condition.

An equally important field of the department's ​​clinical activities is the treatment of injuries in children. Specially trained pediatric radiologists carry out the necessary examinations: X-ray, CT and MRI scans. The equipment has special protection systems that guarantee the safety of the examination of the child. Traumatic injuries often cause a severe pain syndrome in a child, so the department's doctors carry out effective pain management, after which they decide on the optimal type of treatment for the injury. The department's pediatric traumatologists successfully cope with the treatment of bone fractures, soft tissue injuries, tendon and ligament tears, burn injuries, as well as head injuries and concussion.

The department's doctors pay special attention to the treatment of epilepsy in children. This disorder develops due to the increased electrical activity of certain areas of the brain, and therefore one of the main tasks of doctors is to detect foci of pathological activity and accurately determine their location. Doctors also carry out diagnostic examinations for any comorbidities that can contribute to the development of epileptic seizures. The standard diagnostic protocol includes studying the child's medical history, electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging. With the confirmed diagnosis, doctors determine the causes of the development of epilepsy and its type, after which they elaborate an individually tailored treatment regimen. Depending on the type of epilepsy, specialists select the optimal medication or a combination of medications. As a rule, the course of treatment should be continuous and long enough. During treatment, follow-up examinations are regularly carried out to monitor the child's condition and assess the effectiveness of treatment. If, after taking antiepileptic drugs, doctors manage to achieve a stable remission (at least 2 years without epileptic seizures), the dosage of drugs is gradually reduced. A ketogenic diet that is high in fat and low in carbohydrates is often recommended for children suffering from epilepsy. It is clinically proven that this type of diet can significantly reduce the number of epileptic seizures. However, this diet is prescribed by the attending physician, after considering a particular clinical case.

The department's specialists also admit young patients with cerebral palsy. The pathology causes serious movement disorders, as well as balance and postural disorders. The neurological disorder quite often causes mental retardation, speech disorder, hearing loss and vision disorder. Infantile cerebral palsy is usually diagnosed at the age of 1-2 years. The diagnostics involves a clinical examination and instrumental tests, including X-ray, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. The team of the department's doctors carries out conservative treatment of cerebral palsy with the help of botulinum toxin, specially elborated physiotherapeutic programs (for example, Bobath concept, Vojta therapy, Castillo-Morales approach, etc.), therapeutic exercises, massage, sessions with a speech therapist and a psychologist. The goal of therapy is to maximize the restoration of the child's motor functions and prevent disability.

The responsibility of pediatric neurologists also includes medical care to young patients with multiple sclerosis. Recently, it was believed that pathology affects only adults, but today the disease is increasingly common in children. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the nervous system characterized by a remitting course – alternation of remissions and exacerbations. If untreated, multiple sclerosis can cause serious consequences, including motor and sensory impairments, seizures and visual impairments. To confirm the diagnosis, MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are required. Since the pathology remains incurable to this day, the task of the department's specialists is to achieve stable remission and prevent the development of complications of the pathology. Children with this diagnosis need regular medical supervision and pharmacotherapy to control the disease. With the presence of movement disorders, therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, massage and other treatment methods are used. In addition, children with multiple sclerosis receive professional psychological care.

The department's range of medical services includes:

• Diagnostics and treatment of common diseases
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Thyroid diseases
  • Growth disorders (short stature and gigantism)
  • Gastrointestinal and liver diseases
  • Kidney and bladder diseases
  • Diseases of the hematopoietic system
  • Immune system disorders
• Diagnostics and treatment of heart disease
  • Congenital and acquired heart defects
  • Cardiac rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias)
  • Infectious heart lesions
  • Arterial hypertension
• Diagnostics and treatment of pulmonary diseases
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Pneumonia
  • Cystic fibrosis
• Diagnostics and treatment of injuries in children
  • Bone fractures
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Tendon and ligament injuries
  • Burn injuries
  • Head injuries and concussion
• Diagnostics and treatment of neurological disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Chronic headaches
  • Congenital malformations of the nervous system 
  • Autism and autism spectrum disorders
  • Mental retardation, speech impairments, impaired concentration
• Diagnostics and treatment of other diseases in children and adolescents