Dr GJM Wolmarans

Dr GJM Wolmarans Our specialty is paediatrics, or the healthcare of young people from birth through young adulthood.

Your child’s comfort and health, and your convenience and trust are important to us.

Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: Raising Clinical Awareness on World MS Day 🩺Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is traditionally...
04/06/2026

Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: Raising Clinical Awareness on World MS Day 🩺

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is traditionally viewed as an adult-onset neurological condition. However, approximately 3% to 5% of all individuals diagnosed with MS experience their first clinical symptoms before the age of 18.

In recognition of World Multiple Sclerosis Day (30 May), it is essential to raise clinical awareness surrounding Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS) and the critical role of early, specialized intervention.

Diagnosing MS in pediatric patients presents unique clinical challenges. Because children are still undergoing neurodevelopment, their symptoms can sometimes mask as other childhood neurological disorders, infections, or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Early detection by a pediatrician, followed by a multidisciplinary approach with pediatric neurologists, is vital to preserving long-term neurological function.

Key Clinical Signs to Monitor in Children and Adolescents:

Visual Disturbances: Sudden onset of blurred vision, double vision, or optic neuritis (pain with eye movement).

Sensory and Motor Changes: Numbness, tingling, unexplained weakness in limbs, or sudden difficulties with balance and coordination.

Paroxysmal Symptoms: Lhermitte’s sign (an electric shock-like sensation down the spine when bending the neck forward).

Cognitive and Fatigue Shifts: Acute changes in school performance, paired with profound, unexplained fatigue that impacts daily activities.

While POMS is relatively rare, a timely and accurate diagnosis allows for the immediate initiation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Thanks to advancements in pediatric neuro-immunology, early treatment can significantly reduce relapse rates and protect a child's cognitive and physical trajectory.

At the rooms of Dr. GJM Wolmarans, we are dedicated to comprehensive pediatric care, ensuring that complex neurological changes are thoroughly investigated, diagnosed, and managed alongside specialized medical networks.

For clinical consultations, diagnostic guidance, or pediatric wellness resources, please reach out to our rooms:

📍 Visit us: Suite 203 Akasia Medical Centre, Cnr Heinrich Avenue & Brits Road, Karenpark, Akasia.
📞 Phone: 012 549 8900
✉️ Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: www.gjmw.co.za

Navigating the Teething Phase: What to expect and how to help your little one. 🦷👶That glowing newborn smile doesn’t stay...
28/05/2026

Navigating the Teething Phase:
What to expect and how to help your little one. 🦷👶

That glowing newborn smile doesn’t stay toothless forever! For many parents, the arrival of a baby’s first tooth is an exciting milestone, but the journey getting there can be a fussy, sleepless road for both you and your little one.

Understanding the teething process can help you spot the signs early and provide the right comfort when those tiny teeth start pushing through.

🔍 What Parents Can Expect
While every baby reacts differently, teething typically begins around 6 months of age (though it can start earlier or later). As those tiny teeth move through the gums, you might notice a combination of these classic signs:

> Excessive Drooling: This is often the very first sign! Keep a few soft bibs handy to pat their chin dry and prevent skin rashes.

> The Need to Gnaw: Your baby will likely start biting, chewing, and gnawing on absolutely everything, their hands, toys, and even your fingers, to relieve the pressure on their gums.

> Irritability and Restlessness: Gums can become tender and swollen, making your baby more fussy than usual, particularly right before a tooth breaks through.

> Slight Sleep Disruption: Teething discomfort doesn't punch a clock; it often peaks at night, leading to a few extra wake-up calls.

💡 A Quick Medical Reminder: While teething can cause a slight rise in body temperature (a mild "teething flush"), it does not cause a true, high fever or diarrhea. If your child has a fever over 38°C, is vomiting, or seems unusually unwell, it’s likely a winter bug rather than a new tooth. Please contact a professional rather than chalking it up to teething.

🛠️ How Parents Can Help
You don't have to watch your little one struggle in discomfort. Here are a few safe, effective ways to soothe their sensitive gums:

> Apply Gentle Pressure: Clean your hands thoroughly and use a clean finger or a damp, cold gauze pad to gently massage your baby’s swollen gums. The counter-pressure feels incredibly soothing to them.

> Keep it Cold: Place a solid rubber teething ring or a clean washcloth in the fridge (not the freezer!) for a little while. The cold temperature acts as a mild, natural numbing agent. Avoid liquid-filled teething rings, as they can puncture.

> Protect the Skin: All that extra drool can irritate their sensitive facial skin. Gently wipe their chin throughout the day and consider applying a mild, skin-safe barrier ointment before naptime and bedtime.

> Ask About Safe Medication: If your little one is in distinct distress or struggling to rest, speak to us or your pharmacist about age-appropriate, paediatric paracetamol dosages to help take the edge off the pain.

Teething is a completely natural, passing phase. Before you know it, those fussy nights will give way to a beautiful, healthy new set of pearly whites!

If you have questions about your child's dental eruption timeline or overall developmental milestones, we are here to guide you.

📍 Visit us: Suite 203 Akasia Medical Centre, Cnr Heinrich Avenue & Brits Road, Karenpark, Akasia.
📞 Phone: 012 549 8900
✉️ Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: https://www.gjmw.co.za/faq/

Is it just a winter cold, or is it RSV? What every parent needs to know this May. 🤧👶As the autumn chill settles into Sou...
28/05/2026

Is it just a winter cold, or is it RSV?
What every parent needs to know this May. 🤧👶

As the autumn chill settles into South Africa, the winter illness season arrives with it. While most parents prepare for the usual sniffles, May marks a high-risk period for a much more serious respiratory virus known as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

While RSV feels like a mild cold to adults and older kids, it can be incredibly severe and even life-threatening for newborns and infants. The virus causes inflammation in their tiny airways, a condition called bronchiolitis.

🔍 How to tell the difference: Cold vs. RSV

It can be tough to distinguish between the two early on, but here is what you should look out for:

> A Common Cold: This usually starts with a runny nose, a mild sore throat, and a low-grade fever. Your baby might be a bit fussy but generally continues to feed, play, and breathe normally.

> RSV Red Flags: RSV tends to peak around day 3 to 5 of the illness. Watch out for a deep, raspy cough, wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing, extreme lethargy, and a sudden drop in feeding.

> The Ultimate Warning Sign: Look out for retractions. If you can see your baby's skin pulling in tightly between their ribs or at the base of their neck when they breathe, they are working too hard to get oxygen. Seek medical care immediately.

🧼 How to "Bubble-Wrap" your newborn this winter

Because RSV is highly contagious and spreads through cough droplets and surfaces, protecting your infant requires a proactive defense strategy, especially during visiting hours:

> Enforce the "Wash First" Rule: With no exceptions allowed, anyone who wants to hold or touch the baby must wash their hands thoroughly with soap or use a high-quality sanitizer first.

> No Kisses on the Face: Kindly ask family and friends to refrain from kissing your baby's face, hands, or head. Droplets on a well-meaning relative's lips can easily transmit the virus.

> Screen Your Visitors: If a loved one has even the slightest tickle in their throat or a mild runny nose, ask them to postpone their visit until they are completely well.

> Avoid Crowded Indoor Spaces: Keep your newborn away from busy shopping centers or crowded indoor gatherings where winter bugs circulate freely.

Knowledge is your best tool for keeping your little one safe and healthy through the colder months ahead.

If you are concerned about your child’s breathing or want to discuss winter wellness strategies, please don’t hesitate to contact our rooms.

📍 Visit us: Suite 203 Akasia Medical Centre, Cnr Heinrich Avenue & Brits Road, Karenpark, Akasia.
📞 Phone: 012 549 8900
✉️ Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: www.gjmw.co.za

From Day One to Big Milestones: We’re tracking your baby’s progress!👶✨When it comes to your little one’s health, the bes...
21/05/2026

From Day One to Big Milestones: We’re tracking your baby’s progress!👶✨

When it comes to your little one’s health, the best approach is always a proactive one. Dr. GJM Wolmarans specializes in the healthcare of babies right from birth, ensuring they have the strongest possible start in life.

🩺 Why we test in the first few days
The journey begins almost immediately with Newborn Screening. In those crucial first few days of life, metabolic and genetic screenings are performed.

But why so early? Because early detection completely changes the trajectory of a child’s life. Many conditions don't show visible symptoms right away, but catching them early allows us to implement preventative care before they ever affect your baby's development.

📈 Is your little one hitting their growth goals?
As your baby grows, our focus shifts to tracking their unique journey. Regular check-ups allow us to monitor physical growth, motor skills, and developmental milestones.

Let’s check their progress! Routine wellness visits give you peace of mind and give us the chance to optimize your child's health for the season ahead.

Whether you've just welcomed a newborn or are tracking a busy toddler, we are here to partner with you every step of the way.

🏥 Visit us: Suite 203 Akasia Medical Centre, Cnr Heinrich Avenue & Brits Road, Karenpark, Akasia.
📞 Book an appointment: 012 549 8900 / [email protected]. Contact our rooms today to schedule your baby's next wellness check.

Celebrating Excellence in Nursing Care🌟To the nurses who:✨ Calm a crying infant with expert care.✨ Patiently explain scr...
12/05/2026

Celebrating Excellence in Nursing Care🌟

To the nurses who:
✨ Calm a crying infant with expert care.
✨ Patiently explain scripts and schedules to tired parents.
✨ Administer vaccinations with the gentlest touch.
✨ Keep our practice and hospitals running smoothly every single day.

Thank you for your dedication to the health and happiness of our little patients. Happy International Nurses Day!🌟

Celebrating the Magic of Moms.✨🌷To all the moms, grandmoms, and caregivers in our pediatric family: You are doing an inc...
12/05/2026

Celebrating the Magic of Moms.✨🌷

To all the moms, grandmoms, and caregivers in our pediatric family: You are doing an incredible job.

Whether you’re in the thick of the newborn days or navigating the school years, your strength is what keeps our little patients thriving.

Wishing you a peaceful and happy Mother’s Day from Dr. GJM Wolmarans and staff!

Tag a mom below who is doing an amazing job!👇

To the Mom in my waiting room: We see you.🤍Today is World Maternal Mental Health Day. While our focus at the practice is...
12/05/2026

To the Mom in my waiting room: We see you.🤍

Today is World Maternal Mental Health Day. While our focus at the practice is often on your little one’s growth and milestones, today we want to focus on yours.

The "Fourth Trimester" and the years that follow are beautiful, but they can be incredibly taxing. Postpartum anxiety and depression are not signs of weakness—they are medical conditions that deserve the same care and attention we give to a fever or a cough.

Dr. Wolmarans and our team believe that supporting a mother’s mental health is one of the greatest gifts we can give to a child. If you are struggling, please know this is a safe space to speak up.

You are doing a great job, Mom. But you don't have to do it alone.

Dr Wolmarans: 012 549 8900 / [email protected]
Visit our website for more info: www.gjmw.co.za

Is your home winter-ready and child-safe?🔥It only takes a second for a curious toddler to reach for a hot cup of tea or ...
12/05/2026

Is your home winter-ready and child-safe?🔥

It only takes a second for a curious toddler to reach for a hot cup of tea or a heater. For National Burn Safety Awareness Week, we’re urging parents to do a "knee-high" sweep of the house.

Check for:
✅ Unsecured heaters
✅ Dangling kettle cords
✅ Hot water bottles without covers

If a burn occurs, remember: Run cool (not ice cold) tap water over the area for 20 minutes and contact our rooms or the emergency unit immediately.

Dr Wolmarans: 012 549 8900 / [email protected]
Visit our website for more info: www.gjmw.co.za


Protecting little lungs in a big world.🫁✨May is Anti-Tobacco Month, a vital time to talk about how smoke affects our mos...
12/05/2026

Protecting little lungs in a big world.🫁✨

May is Anti-Tobacco Month, a vital time to talk about how smoke affects our most vulnerable patients. Did you know that children breathe faster than adults? This means they inhale more pollutants, including second-hand smoke.

Exposure to to***co smoke increases a child’s risk of:
> Severe asthma attacks
> Chronic bronchitis and pneumonia
> Persistent ear infections

As we head into the colder months and spend more time indoors, let’s commit to keeping our homes and cars 100% smoke-free zones. Your child’s lungs will thank you!

Dr Wolmarans: 012 549 8900 / [email protected]
Visit our website for more info: www.gjmw.co.za

PLEASE NOTE:Our practice will be closed from the 27th of April to the 1st of May.In case of emergencies, please contact:...
28/04/2026

PLEASE NOTE:
Our practice will be closed from the 27th of April to the 1st of May.

In case of emergencies, please contact:
Akasia Hospital at 012 522 1000.
Warm regards, Dr. GJM Wolmarans

Address

29 Madelief Avenue, AKASIA
Pretoria
0182

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 15:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 15:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 15:00
Thursday 08:00 - 15:00
Friday 08:00 - 15:00

Telephone

+27125498900

Website

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