Vol. 34, No.2
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Endocrinology team at Dayton Children’s – Warren County
| Convenient care for chronic conditions |
When a child is sick, convenience is key. When a child has a chronic, lifelong condition, convenience along with quality care are essential.
Paul Breyer, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at Dayton Children’s, treats Paul Dunn for Addison disease at Dayton Children’s Specialty Care Center in Warren County.
Paul Dunn, an 11-year-old from Franklin, has Addison disease and receives treatment and follow-up care from Paul Breyer, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at Dayton Children’s.
Paul was first diagnosed with Addison disease in July 2007 when he was 8 years old. Paul had a fever that wouldn’t break. His parents assumed it was a viral infection; however, the fever started to rise and then fall and his skin began turning green in color. Paul’s parents took him to Dayton Children’s emergency department where he was then admitted for three days. During those few days, Paul received numerous tests and was diagnosed with Addison disease by Dr. Breyer.
Dr. Breyer explains that Addison disease occurs when the adrenal glands are damaged and cannot produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. It affects one to four of every 100,000 people.
Cortisol affects almost every organ and tissue in the body. Its most important job is to help the body respond to stress. Among its many vital tasks, cortisol helps maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function, slow the immune system’s inflammatory response, maintain levels of glucose in the blood and regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Every three months Paul goes in for a checkup at Dayton Children’s Specialty Care Center in Warren
County, where he continues to see Dr. Breyer. Dr. Breyer and several other pediatric specialists from Dayton Children’s diagnose and treat children close to their homes south of Dayton in addition to the children they care for on Dayton Children’s main campus.
“We live in Franklin County, so the convenience of the Warren county facility is perfect,” explains his stepmother Nikki Dunn.
“Paul is a great kid, says Dr. Breyer. “He has the support of a loving family and knows what it takes to manage his disease.”
“Appointments are routine and pretty short,” Nikki says. “Paul’s vitals are taken, his skin color is examined to make sure his cortisol levels are balanced and Dr. Breyer reviews Paul’s lab work. The convenience of the Warren County facility is perfect for our family.”
Since being diagnosed, Paul has been able to keep his disease under control and resume the lifestyle of a normal 11-year-old. He attends Gerke Elementary School where he ran for student council and is involved in Boy Scouts.
“Paul is more of an intellect, and I would love for him to be a doctor,” Nikki says when describing Paul as a kid beyond his disease. “But, as of today, Paul wants to design video games when he grows up. I could see him pursuing a career in the engineering field.”
Allen Dunn, Jr (R),
helps his brother Paul remember to take his medicine every day.
Paul is quite a mature young boy, as he has had to grow up quickly with his illness. He is in full control of his medicine; taking cortisol three times a day and an additional medication in the morning. When he is sick, he is very sick and must triple his dosages of medicine. This is the most dangerous aspect to his illness. Any form of extra stress on Paul’s body can spark a crisis.
“A crisis usually means we end up in the emergency department,” according to Nikki. Dr. Breyer emphasizes, “It’s important for Paul to understand
his disease and his body and for him to know the warning signs.”
“Beyond the moments he is sick, Paul really has his illness under control,” Nikki says proudly. “He has a positive attitude and doesn’t use his illness to his advantage.”
While this will be a lifelong disease Paul must deal with, his mature attitude and the comfort of having
Dr. Breyer close to home is extremely helpful.
| About endocrinology and Dayton Children’s care team |
Endocrinology is the study of glands and hormones and their related disorders. Diabetes is probably one
of the most common endocrine disorders, but there are many more. Dayton Children’s endocrinology
department offers a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of children diagnosed with diabetes or other endocrine disorders. Children with diabetes are cared for by a team that includes physicians, nurses, a dietitian and a social worker. If your child could benefit from endocrinology services, talk to your child’s pediatrician or family doctor about a consultation and referral.
For more information on Dayton Children's endocrinology department click on the link above.
Yelena Nicholson, DO, joins endocrinology care team
Dr. Nicholson getting to know a patient at Dayton Children’s. Dr. Nicholson will start seeing patients May 1.
Yelena Nicholson, DO, will join Dayton Children’s endocrinology department May 1. “I look forward to helping take care of children in Dayton Children’s endocrinology department,” says Dr. Nicholson, who has a special interest in type II diabetes and obesity. “My goal is to make diabetes care better and easier for the child, so he or she can live a fulfilling, normal life.” Dr. Nicholson explains that new technology makes it possible for children to better manage their diabetes, reduce the number of injections and not have to see the doctor in person as much. “E-medicine will allow me to monitor my patients from the office by getting readings remotely from their glucose monitors and insulin pumps.” Dr. Nicholson comes to Dayton Children’s from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio
.
About Dayton Children’s Specialty Care Center – Warren County
Dayton Children’s Specialty Care Center – Warren County is staffed by board-certified pediatric specialists that provide care and services for children and families of Butler and Warren counties in a convenient, close-to-home location. A doctor’s referral is required.
The center is easily accessible from I-75, exit 32. For more information call, 888-422-4453 or click on the link above.
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Table of Contents |
Kohl's A Minute for Kids
Make spring cleaning "green" cleaning
Health Beat
When a tooth
gets loose
ATV injuries to children growing
Dayton Children's - Just right for the community
Dayton Children's Focus
Endocrinology team at Dayton Children's - Warren County
Convenient care for chronic conditions
About endocrinology and Dayton Children's care team
Dayton Children's speech and audiology services
Speech and audiology services available at Springboro location
Lima clinics move to new location
New anesthesiologist joins surgery staff
Stay connected with Dayton Children's
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