Pediatric Centre

At Arsbiomedica, we prioritize the health of individuals of all ages.

The pediatric age is a crucial phase in life, both emotionally, educationally, and also in terms of health.

That’s why we are committed every day to accompany every child, so each family can be welcomed and guided through the journey of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Our pediatric clinic specialists are highly qualified and attentive to providing the best medical support, through values ​​of humanity, closeness, and professionalism.

Our focus on the child combines the most advanced diagnostic tools, updated medical techniques, and a wealth of values ​​resulting from our experience, to build a customized pediatric path for each child.

The stages of the Pediatric Clinic:

• Pediatric visit with subspecialty evaluation in neonatology, gastroenterology, and allergology;
• Growth and nutritional status assessment;
• Laboratory test scheduling and/or diagnostic tests

Pediatric Specializations:

• Neonatology;
• General Pediatrics;
• Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy;
• Allergology;
• Pediatric and prenatal cardiology

Cutting-edge technology serving the pediatric clinic

Depending on diagnostic and therapeutic needs, Arsbiomedica offers all the necessary diagnostic tools for in-depth analysis, in a timely manner and respecting the highest quality and safety standards.

The main technologies available to pediatric patients are:

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) commonly referred to as gastroscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Endoscopic polypectomy (removal of polyps endoscopically)
• Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies
• Capsule endoscopy for small intestine examination
• Esophageal pH-impedance monitoring
• Skin Prick Test for respiratory and food allergens
• Fresh food skin tests (Prick by Prick)
• Specific IgE blood testing for respiratory and food allergens
• ImmunoCAP™ ISAC test for multiple specific IgE evaluation in blood
• Simple spirometry

All invasive procedures are performed under sedation with the assistance of anesthetists specializing in pediatric care.

The medical team of the pediatric center:

Our pediatric services stand out for their multidisciplinary approach, to offer children and their families a healthcare environment they can trust with their health. With competence and professionalism, our medical team strives every day to build and guide children towards their future.

Our pediatric team:

• Professor Giovanni Di Nardo (Pediatric Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy);
• Dr. Maurizio Mennini (Pediatric Allergology);
• Dr. Anna Claudia Massolo (General Pediatrics, Neonatology, Psychotherapy)

Practical Information

In our facility, we follow recent guidelines for all age groups in pediatrics, addressing the following pathologies:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease;
• Chronic constipation;
• Acute and chronic vomiting;
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome;
• Acute and chronic diarrhea;
• Abdominal pain;
• Eosinophilic esophagitis;
• Helicobacter pylori infection;
• Celiac disease;
• Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis);
• Acute gastroenteritis;
• Irritable bowel syndrome;
• Foreign body ingestion;
• Gastrointestinal bleeding;
• Polyposis and polyposis syndromes;
• Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction;
• Achalasia;
• Allergic rhinitis;
• Allergic conjunctivitis;
• Allergic asthma;
• Acute and chronic urticaria;
• Atopic dermatitis;
• Food allergy: IgE-mediated food allergy, Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES), Food Protein-Induced Allergic Proctocolitis (FPIAP);
• Lactose intolerance;
• Neonatal monitoring;
• Weaning counseling;
• Auxological assessment of newborns and children (growth assessment);
• Sleep problems counseling;
• Parental support counseling;
• Early childhood eating problems counseling (food selectivity);
• Toilet training counseling;

Pediatric clinic: FAQs

At what age should a child have their first visit to the pediatrician?

The first pediatric visit is recommended a few days after discharge from the hospital. Subsequent check-ups are scheduled at the discretion of the attending pediatrician. Generally, these involve monthly check-ups for the first year of life, check-ups every 3/6 months in the second and third years of life, and annual check-ups from the fourth year of life onwards.

What are the mandatory vaccinations and when should they be done?

Mandatory vaccinations include:

• anti-diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B (Hexavalent vaccination).
• It can be administered from the 61st day of life. The measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine is recommended from the 13th month onwards.

How much should a child sleep to have a regular lifestyle?

A child’s sleep depends on age. Generally, it involves 14-17 hours in the first month of life and gradually decreases to 11-13 hours by the age of 3-4 years. Sleep cycles are shorter in the first few months of life, which can cause more frequent awakenings, but they gradually lengthen.

What to do if a child has difficulty swallowing and digesting?

Children may have difficulty swallowing by refusing food or certain solid consistencies, drinking lots of water during meals to facilitate food swallowing, or holding food in their mouths for a long time to reduce its consistency. In such cases, specialized counseling is fundamental.

What to do if a child doesn’t speak?

In general, between 12 and 18 months, children should have a vocabulary of about 15-20 words. By the age of three, children should have acquired language skills sufficiently developed to allow them to communicate with others. However, some children take longer. It is important to consult the pediatrician to consider further evaluation with a neuropsychiatric and speech therapy visit if necessary.

Why can obesity be a risk even in childhood?

Obesity can be a risk even in childhood because it increases the likelihood of developing significant medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and metabolic disorders. Moreover, it can negatively affect psychosocial development and increase the risk of obesity in adulthood.

What to do if a child has difficulty breathing at night?

If a child exhibits noisy and apparently difficult breathing during sleep, it is important to consult a doctor to determine the underlying cause. However, some general measures that may be helpful include keeping a smoke-free environment, reducing exposure to potential allergens such as animal fur or dust, and ensuring that the child sleeps in a comfortable and elevated position, such as with their head slightly raised.

What are the symptoms of:

The symptoms of pneumonia:
Persistent cough, fever or low-grade fever, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, sometimes abdominal pain, fatigue.

The symptoms of celiac disease:
Typical symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and poor growth. However, there are also more subtle clinical forms that are difficult to diagnose with extraintestinal symptoms, such as iron deficiency anemia that does not respond to oral therapy or recurrent headaches.

The symptoms of reflux:
Heartburn, regurgitation, vomiting, food refusal.

 The symptoms of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases:
Blood in the stool, abdominal pain and diarrhea especially if it also occurs at night, growth arrest, perianal fistulas, joint pains especially in the morning.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis:
Nasal congestion, sneezing, nasal itching, tearing, and clear nasal discharge.

The symptoms of asthma:
Wheezing (a whistling sound during breathing), chronic cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms can vary in severity from mild to severe and can be triggered by allergens, respiratory infections, physical exercise, or other stimuli.

The symptoms of lactose intolerance:
Abdominal pain, abdominal distension, bloating, diarrhea occurring after consuming lactose-containing foods such as milk, cheese, and may vary in intensity depending on the amount of lactose ingested and individual tolerance.