Dr Cleo Mshumpela

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Johannesburg
Dr Cleo Mshumpela

Dr Cleo Mshumpela is a paediatric surgeon whose other core competencies include neonatal surgery and trauma.

She is passionate about putting South Africa on the map in this field through advances in surgical techniques and research.

05/09/2026

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
The tummy lump that deserves attention

Children naturally have wonderfully round little tummies, so changes can sometimes be difficult to notice.

But a new lump, persistent swelling or one side of the abdomen looking different should be assessed.

Certain childhood tumours, including neuroblastoma and kidney tumours, can first present as an abdominal mass.

A child may otherwise appear perfectly well. Others may have pain, poor appetite, weight loss, fever or changes in their usual behaviour.

Finding a lump does not automatically mean cancer. There are many possible causes.

But it is not something to ignore.

During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the message is not to panic. It is to notice changes, ask questions and seek assessment when something persists.
September is recognised as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in South Africa.

04/09/2026

Most chest infections in children are treated medically.

But occasionally an infection causes infected fluid or pus to collect around the lung. This is known as an empyema.

A child may have a persistent fever, cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain or simply fail to improve despite treatment.

When a significant collection develops, antibiotics alone may not be enough. A drain may need to be placed into the chest to remove the infected fluid, and occasionally surgery is needed to clear the space around the lung.

This is one of those situations where paediatric surgery and paediatric medicine work closely together.

The goal is not simply to treat the infection, but to help the lung expand and function normally again.

31/08/2026

When sudden tummy pain in a girl needs urgent attention

Severe abdominal pain in children is not always caused by the bowel.

In girls, one important condition we sometimes need to consider is ovarian torsion.
This happens when an o***y twists around the tissues supporting it, which can reduce or cut off its blood supply. It can occur in children and teenagers, sometimes even when there has never been a previous gynaecological problem.

A child may suddenly develop:
• Severe pain, often on one side of the lower tummy
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain that comes and goes or becomes progressively worse
• Difficulty walking comfortably because of the pain

The symptoms can look similar to appendicitis, gastroenteritis or other common causes of abdominal pain, which is why examination and imaging are often needed.
When ovarian torsion is suspected, time matters. Surgery may be required urgently to untwist the o***y and, where possible, protect its blood supply.

For parents, the important message is simple: sudden, severe abdominal pain that does not settle deserves proper assessment.

Not every tummy ache is surgical, but some should not be watched at home for too long.

30/08/2026

Why I speak to the child, not only the parent

When a child comes into my consulting room, the adults usually do most of the talking.

That is understandable. Parents know the history, remember the symptoms and often arrive with a long list of questions.

But I always try to include the child in the conversation too.

Even young children deserve to know what is happening to their bodies. I explain things in a way they can understand, give them time to ask questions and listen carefully to what worries them most.

Sometimes their biggest concern is not the operation itself. It may be the needle, missing school, waking up without a parent nearby or whether they will still be able to play sport afterwards.

Speaking directly to a child helps them feel respected, involved and a little more in control.

They may be my patient, but they are also an important part of the team.

29/08/2026

It happens quickly. A child is running through the house, does not see the closed glass door and crashes straight through it.

Some cuts are superficial, but broken glass can create deep wounds that damage muscles, tendons, nerves or blood vessels beneath the skin.

Seek urgent care if the wound is deep or gaping, bleeding will not stop, your child has numbness or they cannot move a finger, hand or limb normally.

Do not probe the wound or remove deeply embedded glass yourself. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth and keep your child calm while arranging medical assessment.

For large glass doors, visible stickers or decals at a child’s eye level can make the glass easier to see.
Sometimes one small change in the home prevents a very big injury.

28/08/2026

Can a child with a stoma still play?

This is one of the first things many parents worry about.

A stoma is created when part of the bowel is brought through an opening in the abdomen so that stool can leave the body into a special bag.

It may be temporary or permanent, depending on the condition and the child’s treatment plan.

At first, families may worry about changing the bag, clothing, school, sleep and whether their child will still be able to run around normally.

With the right support and guidance, children with stomas can continue enjoying family life, school and age-appropriate play. Specialist stoma nurses help families find suitable products, care for the surrounding skin and build confidence at home.
A stoma changes how the body works, but it does not take away a child’s personality, joy or ability to be a child.

27/08/2026

The small port that supports a very big treatment journey.
Children receiving treatment for leukaemia often need medication, blood tests, fluids and transfusions over a long period.

Repeatedly placing drips into small veins can become painful and stressful. A surgically placed port gives the medical team reliable access to a large vein while the device remains protected beneath the skin.

For parents, the port can feel intimidating at first. Over time, it often becomes a familiar part of treatment that reduces repeated needle sticks and makes hospital visits a little more manageable.

The port is only one small part of a much bigger journey, but it shows how paediatric surgeons, oncologists, nurses and families work together to make treatment safer and gentler.

26/08/2026

When a child’s chest grows outwards.

Most people have heard of a sunken chest, but some children develop the opposite.
Pectus carinatum is a chest wall condition where the breastbone and ribs grow outwards, giving the chest a prominent appearance.

It often becomes more noticeable during a growth spurt. Some children have no physical symptoms but may feel self-conscious, especially during the teenage years.

The good news is that surgery is not always the first treatment. In many mild to moderate cases, a specially fitted brace can gradually reshape the chest as the child grows.

More severe or complex cases may require surgical correction.

Every child’s chest develops differently, so the treatment plan depends on growth, flexibility, symptoms and how the condition affects the child.

24/08/2026

The braai may be finished, but the danger is not.

When the food is served and everyone moves inside, children may see the braai area as safe again.

Hot coals and ash can still cause serious burns, especially to little hands and bare feet. Young children may step into the area, fall near the fire or touch a grid that still looks harmless.

Deep burns sometimes need more than dressings. They may require hospital admission, removal of damaged tissue, skin grafting or longer-term scar care.
Once the braai is finished, extinguish the fire properly and keep children away until the coals, grid and surrounding area are completely safe.

21/08/2026

The tummy bruise that can tell a bigger story

Children fall. They crash bicycles, tumble off jungle gyms, collide during sport and occasionally take a hard knock directly to the tummy.

Most of the time, they bounce back remarkably quickly.

But a significant blow to the abdomen can sometimes injure organs such as the liver, spleen, pancreas or bowel, even when there is very little to see on the outside.
As a Paediatric Surgeon, this is why I am interested in more than just the bruise.
I want to know:
• How did the accident happen?
• Where exactly was the impact?
• Is the pain becoming worse?
• Has your child vomited?
• Are they unusually pale, tired or dizzy?
• Is the tummy becoming swollen or increasingly tender?

One important thing for parents to know is that internal injuries do not always cause dramatic symptoms immediately. A child may initially seem relatively well and develop more obvious symptoms later.

Not every abdominal injury needs surgery. In fact, many solid organ injuries in children can be carefully monitored without an operation. But identifying the injury and watching the child appropriately is important.

So after a significant knock to the tummy, pay attention to how your child behaves over the hours that follow.

Sometimes the bruise we can see is not the part we are most concerned about.

Address

Suite 26B, 2nd Fl. Main Building Cnr Peter Place & Main Rd, Bryanston, Sandton
Johannesburg
2021

Telephone

+27114630443

Website

https://drcleom.co.za/

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