An experienced pediatric surgeon, Dr. Mark Holterman has served as a professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine for the past six years. Outside of his work as an educator, Mark Holterman, MD, is a longtime member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In the wake of recent hurricanes throughout the southeastern region of the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released guidelines for communities to ensure children remain safe and healthy as cleanup efforts continue. According to AAP officials, children are especially vulnerable to illness as a result of exposure to toxic substances present in floodwaters that linger after a hurricane--contamination that remains even after the waters recede. To ensure safety, children should not be brought back to flood-affected school areas until the buildings and playground equipment have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, drinking water should be restored and large items of debris cleared out before kids come back, and they should not be involved in the cleanup work in any capacity.
Pediatric surgeon Mark Holterman, MD, teaches medical students and residents as a professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. In addition to this, he researches a wide range of topics relating to pediatric surgery. Over the years, Dr. Mark Holterman has published dozens of papers and maintained a clinical interest in such topics as autoimmune diseases.Although autoimmune disorders, such as Addison’s disease, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, are rare among children, they can still occur. These conditions may appear either on their own or with another autoimmune disorder when present in children and may be caused by environmental factors, heredity, or hormonal factors. In most cases, children with autoimmune disease experience varying symptoms depending on the specific condition they have. However, parents can be on the lookout for signs that a child’s immune system is having problems. These signs include weight loss, low-grade fever, and fatigue. Children with an autoimmune disease may also develop rashes or skin lesions and their hair may become more brittle than usual.Since many of these symptoms can be attributed to common illnesses, parents should make sure they know the cause behind their child’s illness. If no clear cause can be found, it’s a good idea to have a pediatrician check for illness. If they suspect that an autoimmune disease is to blame, they will refer the child to a specialist.
