Term

To entrust the healthcare of your child

Pediatrics is the field of medicine associated with the health, well-being and medical care of newborn infants, children and adolescents up to 18 years. The objective of pediatrics is to reduce the death rate among infants and children and curb the spread of infectious diseases. The Pediatrics department at University Hospital Sharjah strives to promote a healthy lifestyle, lifespan and life quality by easing the management of problems that come with chronic conditions among children and adolescents.

UHS is committed to offering excellent medical services to all patients by the infusion of education, research and medical practice. Children are super special patients. They have special biological, psychological and developmental needs. UHS is committed to providing holistic care to your children at each stage. Our level III NICU offers a plethora of sophisticated neonatal facilities like surgery and subspecialist treatments.

Scope of pediatrics services at UHS

Our team of highly qualified and experienced pediatricians give exceptional medical assistance and services to cure acute and chronically ill children alongside offering preventive health services for healthy patients. Our compassionate doctors uplift the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of children at every milestone.

As a top multi-functionality children’s hospital, UHS helps diagnose and treat ailments like infections, injuries, genetic disorder, congenital issues and dysfunctional organs. It encompasses critical care medicine, Neonatal medicine, endocrinology, hematology, Genetics and metabolic diseases, Gastroenterology, Urology, cardiology etc.

Some of our primary health care services include General Health Exams, Growth and Development Exams, Vision and Hearing Tests, Surgery, Emergency Care, New Born Intensive Care Unit, Allergy, etc. The focus of our pediatric specialty department goes beyond curing illnesses as it also provides support for special needs such as developmental delays, behavioral problems, functional disabilities, mental disorders, anxiety, etc.

Why choose UHS for pediatrics-related health concerns?

Vested with cutting-edge medical technology, the pediatric specialty at UHS helps your child undergo medical treatments under a compassionate and patient-centered atmosphere. Our services include basic child-care, handling complicated medical cases, and chronic conditions.

Our proficient pediatricians, nurses and healthcare professionals ensure a smooth experience with regular treatment visits and special hospital referrals.

Services

1. NICU for 23 weeks gestation and above

In the womb, the baby depends on the mother for breathing, eating, immunity, etc. After birth, the infant needs to have healthy lungs, cardiac and pulmonary functions, healthy kidneys and liver, a healthy digestive, excretory system and immune system. They need neonatal care in case of malfunctioning of any of the above. As the leading children hospital in the UAE, UHS has a Level III neonatal unit providing world-class neonatal diagnosis, surgery and rehabilitation. The modern and well equipped Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UHS facilitates intensive care for newborns as mature as 23 weeks gestation along with full-term infants across all medical and surgical ailments. We strive to instill a warm and family-friendly environment to help the little ones heal, grow and bloom. UHS pediatric center also specializes in managing children born with birth defects, prematurity complications and immature digestive and neurological systems.

2.Clinical Genetics and metabolic diseases

Genetics and metabolic diseases are rare genetic disorders that occur due to the absence of or defect in enzymes in the body. Enzymes are crucial for the metabolism process as they help in breaking down food and chemicals. The nature of the defect or absence determines the type of metabolic disorder a person may suffer. The symptoms can vary between being mild to fatal.

As the best pediatrics specialty hospital in the UAE, UHS is well-equipped with complete evaluation, testing and treatment of genetic disorders among children. Our treatment approach combines modern diagnostic techniques with the factors such as dietary management, family history, psychological support, genetic counselling, etc. Our team also assist with avoiding the recurrence of the disease by implementing preventive measures. As a multi-specialty hospital, the parents get the advantage and convenience of consulting specialists of respective specialties under the same facility.

3. Birth defects

A birth defect could be a health condition or physical abnormality ranging from mild, moderate to fatal. Birth defects are also known as congenital anomalies/ congenital abnormalities. Genetics, environment or a combination of both can cause birth defects among children. Some of the causes of genetic birth defects are- Chromosomal defects, Mutation of a single gene, Dominant inheritance, and Recessive inheritance. Environmental factors include teratogens like drugs, alcohol, etc. Multifactorial birth defects occur when both genetics and environmental factors combine to enhance the sensitivity to an environmental trigger. UHS is one of the few hospitals in the UAE to help in the prevention and management of birth defects.

4.Congenital heart disease

Any trouble with the structure of the heart becomes the cause of congenital heart disease. Problems in the valves and walls of the heart or arteries and veins near the heart cause congenital heart disease. It interrupts the smooth flow of blood through the heart. Congenital heart defects are diagnosed by conducting a physical examination and special tests. Severe cases can be detected during pregnancy or right after birth. The infants show symptoms of rapid breathing, cyanosis, tiredness, and bad blood circulation. Expert cardiologists treat pediatric patients suffering from congenital heart defects through medicines, surgery, catheter procedures and heart transplants, depending on the age, health and size of the patient.

5.Food Allergy

Food allergy is an abnormal response of the body to a particular food. Food allergy is often confused with food intolerance. Food intolerance does not impact the immune system, but allergy does. The allergic symptoms appear in children after consuming the food for the second time as IgE antibodies are released and react with food. It releases histamines causing symptoms like hives, asthma, cramps, swelling, vomiting, itching, throat tightness, low BP, wheezing, breathing issues, etc. to appear. These symptoms might appear within a minute or an hour after the food intake.

Experienced and erudite pediatricians at UHS help diagnose food allergies in pediatric patients as the symptoms often resemble other medical issues. Our expert doctors also re-introduce food in a planned manner to check if the child has outgrown the allergy. Food allergies can inhibit nutrient intake among children. Our doctors help in retaining these nutrients by prescribing supplemental vitamins, minerals, etc.

6.Neonatal Surgery

Neonatal surgery is the surgical correction of congenital malformations that develop in unborn babies or during the first month of life. Neonatal surgery is prescribed when the doctor suspects anomalies in the developing baby during prenatal screening. UHS offers sophisticated treatment and care for infants needing neonatal surgery, even for unborn babies still in the mother’s womb. Some of the neonatal surgeries we perform include- Anorectal malformation, Intestine blockages, heart defects, tumors and lesions in the lungs, Hirschsprung’s disease and more.

7.Preterm birth

Delivery before three weeks of the estimated due date is as preterm birth. When a child is born any time before 37 weeks of pregnancy is called a premature baby. It is common among premature children to suffer from some complex medical conditions. The nature and severity of these complications vary. Preterm birth has four classes- Late preterm; around 34-36 weeks of gestation, Moderate preterm; 32-34 weeks of gestation, Very preterm; birth before 32 weeks of gestation, and Extreme preterm- birth at 25 weeks or before. The most common preterm births are late preterm. The attentive and experienced NICU staff at UHS takes care of preterm children and assist parents throughout testing, medication, surgery and post-surgery.

8.Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is essential for your child’s body to assimilate calcium and phosphorus from the food consumed. Vitamin D deficiency in children interferes in maintaining proper levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body. It can cause rickets which causes skeletal deformities among children like bowed legs, thickening of wrists and ankles, and projection of breastbone. A delayed pace of growth, delayed motor skills, painful spine, legs and pelvis and weak muscles are some of the most common symptoms of rickets. Some of the other diseases caused by improper absorption of Vitamin D are- Celiac disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Kidney health issues and Inflammatory bowel disease. In coordination with other relevant departments like orthopedics and physiotherapy, the pediatrics Department at UHS treats and help patients manage their Vitamin D deficiency-related health problems.