One of the most common illnesses affecting children and teenagers is tonsillitis, an inflammation in the back of the throat. According to Dr. Gayle Woodson, an ENT specialist at SIU School of Medicine, many children have tonsillitis at some point between the ages of five and fifteen , and the illness can cause a lot of pain and suffering.

Symptoms:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Redness in the tonsils
• Headache
• Hoarseness or loss of voice
• Dehydration in very small children if they have so much pain they can’t swallow
• Difficulty breathing if the tonsils are enlarged

Tonsillitis can occur any time of year but is most prevalent in the winter.  It can be caused by a virus or bacteria, including strep throat.

“Usually treatment includes antibiotics when there is an acute infection going on with a lot of pain and fever,” says Dr. Woodson. “If someone has more than three infections per year for a number of years, or if they have several infections within six months, it’s clear that the child is going to continue to have these problems. In that situation we recommend taking the tonsils out.”

Tonsilitis is spread by social contact such as sneezing. If a child or adult has tonsillitis, it’s very important to see a primary care physician for evaluation and possible treatment. If left untreated, it can lead to a more serious condition called rheumatic fever.

Hear Dr. Woodson talk about tonsillitis.

For more information:

http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/tonsillitis.cfm

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Tonsillitis.aspx

They’re a pain in the neck – and head – literally. Those who suffer from migraine headaches report problems ranging from blurred vision and nausea to light sensitivity and debilitating head and neck pain. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, more than 37 million people suffer from migraines, and more than 11 million suffer moderate to severe disability due to migraines.

SIU’s plastic surgeon Dr. Nicole Sommer is using BOTOX^® as a diagnostic tool to help patients who suffer from migraines. By injecting the offending muscle with BOTOX^®, it becomes paralyzed and unable to compress the nerves causing the headaches. BOTOX® has been reported to provide benefit to patients for up to six months and may cause fewer side effects than many of the standard medications used to treat migraines.

BOTOX® to surgery

“If it works well for the migraine pain, in the specific area that’s a problem, there’s an 80-90% chance that nerve decompression surgery will successfully eliminate the migraines.” Dr. Sommer says.

Once the surgeon determines the specific trigger point of the pain, migraine surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis with the patient under sedation and/or general anesthesia. Dr. Sommer is the only surgeon in Springfield offering this life-changing surgery.

The surgical technique varies depending on the trigger point. A nerve may be removed or in other cases, a small portion of muscle pinching a cranial nerve may be removed. The positive effects of the surgery are usually permanent.

The FDA has approved the use of BOTOX^® to help those who suffer from the pain of certain migraine headaches, but it is reserved for those with severe cases. To qualify for BOTOX^® injections for migraines, patients must

• suffer from debilitating migraines at least 15 days a month
• keep a diary of all symptoms
• have migraines documented by their physician

Visit SIU’s migraine clinic online at siumed.edu/surgery/plastics/migraine-history.html

Read more about the medical uses of BOTOX® for pain and to read some of SIU’s patient success stories. siumed.edu/pubs/aspects/37-1/feature1.html

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Facing a cancer diagnosis is stressful, but not just for individuals. Illness may have the greatest effect on long-term partnerships, said Patricia Fank, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist at Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.

Some couples who face the challenges of cancer together may actually strengthen the relationship and their commitment to each other. However, couples who have struggled before the illness may find the stress of cancer creates additional problems, Fank said.

“Physically, relationship needs may change due to loss of independence, body image concerns, decreased libido and/or the presence of symptoms which may hinder intimacy,” Fank said. “Emotionally, couples may even try to protect each other by not sharing their experiences, which opens the door to misunderstandings.”

Fank said a cancer diagnosis may also cause role shifts in the relationship. “Changes in household responsibilities such as paying bills, grocery shopping, cooking or walking the dog, not being able to be as active socially, concerns about finances and employment, and altered life plans and goals are all concerns to both partners.”

“Good communication is essential and can help prevent problems before they start,” Fank said. “Recognizing stress signals and being open to change are the first steps to controlling and managing stress. Think of you and your partner as a team that strategizes together to make the best decisions about treatment, caregiving and other issues.”

Fank also offers these tips to couples on ways to strengthen a relationship when a loved one is ill:

• Carve out uninterrupted time to talk
• Practice ‘active listening:’ don’t interrupt and don’t assume you know what your partner will say
• Take turns listening to each other
• Repeat back what you have heard until you truly understand your partner’s point of view
• Discuss strategies that are currently working and not working in the relationship
• Identify positive support vs. unsupportive behavior
• Talk about roles in your relationship that may have shifted
• Share the things you find most difficult to discuss

For more information about the services offered at SCI or to make an appointment, call 217-545-8000.

An on-site pharmacist at a cancer institute offers many benefits to patients, physicians and other providers. Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU in Springfield (SCI) currently is the only outpatient chemotherapy infusion center in the area not affiliated with a hospital that has a full-time pharmacist on staff.

SCI pharmacist Rob Nelson has over twenty years of work focused on oncology pharmacy. He works with the physicians and patients at SCI to be sure that  medications are available in a timely fashion and the ordering process is safe and efficient. Standardizing chemotherapy production — beginning with the medications that patients receive prior to chemotherapy through the end of their treatment — often results in fewer side effects and fewer delays in treatment.

“We like to get people in and out of here as efficiently and safely as possible so they can go about their lives,” Nelson says. His close work with the patients also allows him to assist those who are having pain control issues or want to work on a certain side effect of chemotherapy.

As a licensed pharmacist, Nelson qualifies as investigational drug coordinator for clinical trials, allowing SCI to offer an expanded array of clinical research opportunities to patients. “Many times, the best treatment for a certain cancer will be something that’s in a clinical trial,” Nelson says.

Read more about Rob Nelson, other programs offered at SCI.

Learn more about the clinical trials offered at SCI.

Broken bones cause pain, disability and possibly a dowager’s hump, all leading to a significant loss in the quality of life.  Don’t let it get to the breaking point!

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, at least one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will suffer a fracture caused by weak bones. The good news: these fractures are likely caused by osteoporosis and can be avoided.

The most common and accurate way to determine your bone density and risk for fractures is using a DEXA scan, which uses low-dose x-rays. A central DEXA will scan your lower spine and hip as you lay down. A Peripheral DEXA is a smaller machine  that measures the bone density in your wrist, fingers, leg or heel. DEXA scans are painless and relatively quick.

Consider getting a DEXA screening if you or a loved one are in one of the following risk categories:

• a man over the age of 70
• a woman over the age of 65
• a postmenopausal woman
• a smoker
• Underweight
• Losing height (at least 3 cm)

Or if you have

• a family history of bone fractures
• a family history of osteoporosis
• a vitamin D deficiency
• a history of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol of caffeine
• rheumatoid arthritis

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When supporters of the American Heart Association don their red shirts on Friday, February 7 in honor of “Go Red for Women,” it’s not because heart disease chooses women over men; it’s the leading cause of death for men and women. Unfortunately for the fairer sex, the symptoms of a heart attack often present themselves differently, causing more untimely deaths for women. Almost two-thirds of women who die of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms, according the CDC, and sometimes women with heart disease mistake their symptoms for other health issues.

The most well-known symptom of heart disease is exercise-induced pain that gets better with rest. But the symptoms in women can be far different:

• generalized fatigue
• shortness of breath
• tightness in the throat
• jaw pain
• back pain or arm pain

The typical textbook victim of a heart attack is a white, overweight male. Though setting aside the cheeseburger for a healthier, low-fat meal can benefit many Americans, extra weight isn’t the only risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Other risk factors include:

• tobacco use
• high LDL cholesterol
•  high blood pressure
• family history of heart diseases
• inactivity
• alcohol consumption

Preventative measures are the same for both men and women: diet and exercise, avoid exposure to second-hand and first-hand smoke, don’t use drugs that are toxic to the heart (for example, cocaine). And, it’s never too early to start teaching children to be heart-healthy. “Parents should pay attention to their child’s activity level and body weight and enforce and indoctrinate a non-smoking policy,” says SIU cardiologist Dr. Gabor Matos.

Actress Elizabeth Banks gives great insight into ignoring the warning signs of a heart attack in this humorous video.

For more information: goredforwomen.org/

Zoe Pramuck of Decatur was diagnosed with leukemia at age 5. After more than two years of treatment by SIU’s Dr. Gregory Brandt, she is now in remission from the cancer and leading a normal, healthy life of a 9 year old.

On the drive home from Zoe’s treatments in Springfield her mother, Jennifer Pramuck, observed the numerous specialty license plates. “I decided to help create a license plate to help cure childhood cancer,” Pramuck says. “By working with a friend we connected with State Senator Andy Manar, and legislation was passed to create the ‘Curing Childhood Cancer’ plate.” Proceeds from the sale of the plate will be shared by the Children’s Oncology Group and St. Jude’s Research Hospital.

A cancer diagnosis is shocking to anyone who receives it, but it is especially devastating to children and their families. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children between infancy and age 14. Approximately 11,600 new cases of pediatric cancer were expected to be diagnosed last year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Brandt is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, which sponsors research including national clinical trials that benefit most of his patients. Patients who enroll in a clinical trial have access to newer medications that may have fewer side effects and better outcomes. “Since 2000 the survival rate has increased to about 75% for these children,” said Dr. Brandt.

Under Illinois Secretary of State rules, Illinois residents will need to pre-order 1,500 plates before production can begin. To order the license plate, go to http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/vsd702.pdf and complete the form, writing “Curing Childhood Cancer plates” in the first line, and mail it with a check for $50.

For more information:
http://www.siumed.edu/news/ReleasesFY14/PedsOncLicensePlate.html
http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/snapshots/pediatric