Welcare Hospital
Share This Page:
Welcare Hospital

Paediatrics with Dr. Reinette Bester Specialist Paediatrician


About Dr. Bester

Dr. Bester with a babyDr. Reinette Bester is a specialist Paediatrician at Welcare Hospital. She qualified as a doctor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. After her graduation she undertook the Specialist Paediatric training in University of Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Before joining Welcare Hospital she worked in private practice at Robinson Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa and for the past four years at Blaauwberg Netcare Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

“I have always been very fond of children and after qualifying as a doctor I always found myself the happiest working with the little ones, whether it was vaccinating kiddies in a mobile clinic in a rural area or treating a terminal patient in the oncology unit. Now, being a pediatrician I feel so privileged and blessed to be able to share and interact with children every day of my life! “

“Children have the ability to teach us as adults what life is all about … life is not about money, fancy clothes or big cars, it is about jumping in puddles, skipping alongside flowers, building sandcastles…it is about appreciating the smallest things in life and loving unconditionally.”

An unknown author once wrote:
A rose can say “I love you”
Orchids can enthrall,
But a weed bouquet in a chubby little fist
Yes, that says it all!


1. What are the key things parents should know about vaccinations? When to come for the first set, why should they and the advantages.

“I am often asked by parents how they can improve their child’s immune system. My answer: give breastfeeding your best shot, vaccinate, offer them a well balanced diet and use common sense!

Do not let them come into contact with someone you know is sick and contagious. We are fortunate today to have an “army” of available vaccines that have been improved and studied over many years and are safe and efficient to protect our children from very harmful and potentially fatal childhood illnesses. Vaccinations are started after birth and follow a set schedule.

The timing of the schedules might differ slightly between countries but the vaccines in it self are similar. They contain parts of viruses or bacteria and most are injected. The child’s immune system will then be triggered to start to produce antibodies that in future will be able to protect the child if he or she comes into contact with the same disease.

Minor side effects can include redness and swelling at the site of injection and low grade fever for a few days. These symptoms are nothing compared to the actual severe illness you child will endure if he contracts one of these diseases.”

2. Allergies what are they and why do they affect children so much? Have you seen an increase in children with allergies?

“There is definitely an increase in the number of children we see with allergies and this is an observation seen in other parts of the world too. There are different theories to why we see this increase but we still do not know all the answers.

Children can present with a single allergy or a combination and can include food or milk allergies, allergic rhinitis with persistent nasal congestion and irritation, allergic conjunctivitis with itchy and tearing eyes, skin allergies can present as eczema or urticaria and even asthma can be triggered by allergies. In managing allergies we try to avoid the allergen or the trigger and then the treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms and in some cases also the inflammation caused by the allergen. Some allergic conditions require daily treatment and I have found that many parents are reluctant to treat allergies but do not realize the huge impact untreated allergies have on a child’s quality of life.

A simple example: if your child struggles with allergic rhinitis , try to put a clothing peg on your own nose and keep it on for an entire day – you will be forced to breathe through your mouth. At the end of the day you will know what your child feels like for the biggest part of the day and night everyday!”

3. What kind of allergy related complications do you see?

“Untreated asthma usually results in chronic coughing and can also include wheezing, shortness of breath or exercise induced coughing. Children with untreated allergic rhinitis often presents with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, dark circles under their eyes (which we call allergic shiners), fatigue and poor sleeping at night which can result in poor concentration in school and chronic nasal congestion. Food allergies can present with gastro-intestinal symptoms like diarrhea, cramps and even vomiting.

Children with allergies are often irritable and miserable but the good news is that with the correct treatment and management plan your child’s allergies can be so well managed, they can lead a normal life and no one will even notice they have allergies.”

4. Asthma – please tell us more about risks and treatments and about community taboos?

“I am very passionate about asthma and allergies in childhood! Having allergies myself I know what these little kids endure and what difference the correct treatment can bring. Asthma is not always an easy diagnosis in childhood and there are unfortunately a lot of myths about the condition. It is a chronic condition but with the correct treatment need not be a debilitating disease.

It is not contagious and patients with asthma can do normal sport and other activities. Lots of parents are scared of the condition and do not want to hear the diagnosis. When I diagnose a child with asthma I spend a lot of time educating the parents on all the aspects of the condition and treatment as I believe an informed parent will not be a scared parent!

Asthma is basically a condition in which variable narrowing of the airways cause coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Triggers that cause this irritation can be different for every child but can include pollutants, tobacco smoke, infections, cold air, exercise, pollen, dust or even mould to name but a few. The narrowing is reversible with medication and the treatment consists of reliever therapy and maintenance therapy.

There are different medications available from which your doctor will choose the best fit for your child but regular follow-up with your child’s doctor and being compliant with the medication is crucial.”

5. Antibiotics and children what are the risks and benefits – are you a doctor that only believes general medications or do you also trust alternative medicines?

“Antibiotics play a vital role in curing some childhood infections and if given for the correct indications at the correct dosages and duration the benefits will far outweigh the potential risks of untreated infections.

It is important for the doctor to inform the parent of possible side-effects, when to expect improvement in the illness and when to review whether the infection is responding to the treatment or not.

I treat illnesses and childhood conditions according to evidence based medicine principles and trust medicines proven in studies to be effective and safe and will always manage a patient in the same way as I would do if it was my one child being treated.”

6. Best advice that can be given to a new mother?

“To be a new mom will be an exciting but also scary experience for any women. You suddenly receive this amazing gift and your heart will be overflowing with love and joy but you also realize the first night alone at home with your baby that to be a mom feels like a huge and daunting task. Just spend time with your baby and listen to your baby … and soon your normal mother’s instinct will be kicking in!

Find a Peadiatrician both you and your child feel comfortable with and build a relationship with that doctor. Remember that a doctor is not there to only fill prescriptions or give injections, they should also be there to guide and support you through your child’s first years and be able to truly care for both you and your little one.”


More articles:

Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
 
 
 
 
Abu Dhabi Dubai Kuwait Oman Qatar Site Map

© 2001 - , ExpatWoman.com. All Rights Reserved.