Paediatric Respiratory Medicine

Paediatric Respiratory Medicine

De dienst kinderpneumologie recruteert momenteel patiënten voor een klinische studie rond astma:

Binnen de dienst kinderpneumologie lopen momenteel 2 klinische studies bij kinderen met astma. De studie gaat over het bijstarten van medicatie via een puff die reeds bij volwassenen gebruikt wordt. Indien uw kind aan astma of hyperreactieve luchtwegen lijdt en indien u bevestigend antwoordt op één van onderstaande vragen, dan komt uw kind mogelijks in aanmerking voor deze studie:

  • Voor kinderen van 1 tem 5 jaar: neemt uw kind dagelijks puffers voor astma maar heeft het nog frequent klachten?
  • Voor kinderen van 6 tem 11 jaar: neemt uw kind dagelijks puffers en/of tabletten (bv. reeds een hogere dosering Flixotide, hogere dosering Budesonide, Seretide, Formoterol, Montelukast of Singulair) maar heeft het nog frequent klachten?

 U kan dan voor meer informatie contact opnemen met onze studieverpleegkundigen op hilde [dot] stevens [at] uza [dot] be of monika [dot] waskiewicz [at] uza [dot] be.

Asthma

The Antwerp University Hospital, Asthma Clinic has built up experience in the field of asthma.

The Children’s Asthma Clinic provides state-of-the-art asthma care permitting children to be a regular kid. Patients with asthma often miss school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. The comprehensive team approach, including proper medication, makes control of asthma a reality. Essential components of the pediatric asthma program are pulmonary function testing, allergy testing, environmental assessment, nutritional evaluation, education, and family services. We expertly identify asthma triggers and design personalized asthma action plans.

The asthma clinic is specialized in the comprehensive care of babies, children, and teenagers with mild to severe forms of asthma. Nurses, respiratory therapists and social workers are also part of the team. They all work together to ensure that the child's asthma plan is as effective as possible. The patient benefits from the best team-based asthma care available, based on the latest guidelines.

To determine if the child has asthma, a medical history and physical examination will be conducted. Additional tests may be carried out. For children suffering from an acute asthma attack, Antwerp University Hospital  offers state-of-the-art emergency and inpatient care.

Keeping asthma under control requires education as well. The clinic takes the time to teach the family what they can do to help control the child's condition. We have developed an asthma kit, a tool to help families to better manage a child's asthma. The kit, which is given to families of children with asthma visiting the clinic, contains a variety of helpful resources, including educational brochures and tools to monitor their asthma.

Research

Current studies are aimed at

uncovering the underlying processes in the airways that cause asthma and ameliorating monitoring of asthma,

  • Differences in gut flora
  • Disease and allergies related to or influenced by the environment, their prevention and treatment.
  • Indoor Risk Factors For Childhood Respiratory Diseases: Development And Application Of Non-Invasive Biomarkers.
  • Primary prevention of atopic disease using prebiotics

Cystic Fibrosis (Mucoviscidose)

Under the coordination of Prof. S. Verhulst (Antwerp University Hospital), the  CF Program provides comprehensive care, including: diagnostic testing, pulmonary function tests, medical imaging, monitoring of nutritional status, emotional support and counseling services, patient and family education, training in airway clearance techniques and exercise regimens.

Current clinical research efforts are primarily focused on the longitudinal evaluation of health outcomes. This includes Belgian CF foundation and Pharma industry funded multicenter and local studies of new therapeutic strategies (phase II, III, IV trials), education, monitoring of disease, genetics…

Contact information

Dr. Stijn Verhulst (pediatrics respiratory medicine)