Dr Cleo Mshumpela

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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.

03/01/2026

Protecting Our Children Starts With Paying Attention 💛

Children deserve to grow up safe, protected and believed. While bumps and scrapes are a normal part of childhood, certain injuries should never be ignored.

Please look out for:

• Unexplained injuries
• Repeated bruising in unusual places
• Patterns that don’t match the story
• A child who seems fearful, withdrawn or unusually anxious
• Delays in seeking medical care after an injury.

These signs don’t automatically mean abuse, but they always deserve careful attention.

Early recognition and early support can protect a child’s health, dignity and life.

If something doesn’t feel right, it’s important to speak up!

A safe child today becomes a safe, thriving adult tomorrow.

01/01/2026

The New Year brings a fresh start. For parents, it’s a great moment to pause and tune in to the small health changes we often overlook during the rush of daily life.

Some surgical conditions in children start with very subtle symptoms, and recognising them early can make treatment simpler and recovery smoother.

Here are a few signs worth paying attention to in 2026:

• Persistent or patterned tummy pain after meals or at night
• Repeated vomiting, especially if forceful or green
• A bulge at the belly button or groin that appears with crying or straining
• Constipation that doesn’t improve, especially in newborns or toddlers
• Difficulty swallowing or choking during feeds
• Unusual urine patterns, like dribbling or wetness around the umbilicus
• A persistently swollen or curved p***s in baby boys
• Recurrent chest infections linked to congenital lung conditions.

These symptoms don’t always mean something serious — but they should never be ignored.

A gentle New Year reminder:

If something feels 'off' with your child’s feeding, breathing, tummy, or growth, trust your instincts. Early assessment often means early reassurance – or early intervention when it matters most.

Wishing all families a safe, healthy and hopeful start to 2026. 🌼

30/12/2025

The holidays are a special time for families: road trips, reunions, late-night drives, and long days out exploring.
But it’s also the time of year when children are most vulnerable to road-related injuries in South Africa.

As we step into a new year, here’s a gentle reminder that child passenger safety is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to protect your little ones.

Why This Matters

During the festive season, road accidents remain one of the leading causes of serious childhood injuries.

The risks increase with:

• Heavy holiday traffic
• Tired or distracted driving
• Long journeys
• Inconsistent seatbelt use
• Incorrect or no car seats.

Make Safety Your First New Year’s Resolution

Before the next outing or trip, take a moment to check:

✔ Is my child in the correct seat for their age, weight and height?
✔ Is the harness snug and positioned correctly?
✔ Is the car seat installed tightly with no wobble?
✔ Is everyone buckled — even for very short distances?
✔ Are loose items secured to prevent injuries during sudden braking?
✔ Does our driver feel alert, rested and able to focus?

A Safe Start to 2026

New Year’s celebrations are memorable – let’s keep them safe, too!

Protecting children on the road doesn’t take much time, but it can change everything.

Here’s to a year filled with safe journeys, healthy little passengers and peaceful trips together. ❤️

28/12/2025

Understanding Omphalocele 💛

An omphalocele is a congenital abdominal wall condition where a baby’s organs develop outside the abdomen, but are safely contained within a protective sac.
It is often detected on a prenatal ultrasound, giving families and the medical team time to prepare and carefully plan care from birth.

Management is highly specialised and thoughtfully coordinated.
A multidisciplinary team — including paediatric surgeons, neonatologists, geneticists and specialised nursing staff — works together to give each baby the safest and gentlest start to life.

Associated Conditions

Omphaloceles can occur on their own, but are often associated with other congenital conditions, such as:

Cardiac (heart) defects

Chromosomal abnormalities (including Trisomy 13, 18 or 21)

Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS)

Genitourinary anomalies

Pulmonary hypoplasia in very large omphaloceles

Other midline developmental differences

For this reason, thorough prenatal and postnatal evaluation is essential — not only to plan surgical repair, but to fully understand each child’s overall health needs.

Treatment Goals

Regardless of the size of the omphalocele or any associated conditions, treatment always aims to:

Protect the organs

Support breathing and feeding

Gradually return the organs to the abdomen in the safest way possible

With modern neonatal and paediatric surgical care, many babies go on to grow, thrive and meet milestones beautifully — especially with early intervention and ongoing support.

📌 Image source: Texas Children’s Hospital
🔗 https://www.texaschildrens.org/content/conditions/omphalocele

25/12/2025

As the festive season settles in, may your homes be filled with laughter, gentle moments and the comfort of being together as a family. Christmas is a time of celebration, reflection and hope – especially for the little ones who bring so much light into our lives.

To every family who has entrusted me with their child’s care this year, thank you.

It has been a privilege to walk alongside you during moments of uncertainty, healing and recovery. Your strength, courage and love remind me daily why caring for children is such a special calling.

While many are celebrating, please know that paediatric surgical care continues quietly in the background because children’s needs don’t take a holiday – I remain here for your little ones whenever they need support.

May this Christmas bring rest, warmth and precious memory-making with those you hold close. Wishing you and your families a peaceful festive season and a hopeful start to the new year.

With heartfelt care,

Dr Cleo 🤍

22/12/2025

Some babies are born with their intestines positioned differently inside the tummy. This is called malrotation, and while it may not always cause problems, it can sometimes lead to a serious complication known as volvulus – the intestines twist and interrupt their own blood supply.

When this happens, a newborn can become unwell very quickly.

Parents may notice:

• Green (bile) vomiting
• A swollen or firm tummy
• Unusual crying or distress
• Poor feeding
• Extreme sleepiness or lethargy.

This is a moment where swift action truly matters. Surgery gently untwists the bowel, restores blood flow and protects those delicate little intestines from permanent damage.

Although hearing this diagnosis can feel frightening, I want parents to know that early recognition and timely surgical care bring hope. Babies are incredibly resilient, and seeing them recover and begin to feed comfortably again is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.

Trust your instincts and reach out to me: if something doesn’t feel right with your newborn, it’s always safer to have them assessed.

21/12/2025

Why Is My Baby’s Belly Button 'Leaking'? 🤔

It sounds unusual – and it is – but a tiny number of babies are born with a condition called a patent urachus. This happens when a little channel that connects the bladder to the umbilicus during early development doesn’t close fully before birth.

What parents may notice:

• Moisture or urine leaking from the belly button
• A persistently wet or irritated umbilical area
• A smell or occasional discharge.

Although rare, it’s one of those conditions that needs proper assessment because urine coming through the umbilicus can lead to ongoing irritation and infection.

The good news? A small surgical procedure closes the channel permanently, restores normal anatomy, and protects your baby from future complications.

Most babies recover quickly, and their belly button heals beautifully.

19/12/2025

Hypospadias is a common condition in boys where the opening of the urethra is not located at the tip of the p***s.

Many parents only notice it during nappy changes or the first few baths – it often comes as a surprise, but it’s nothing you caused or could have prevented.

Surgery in infancy gently corrects the position of the opening, straightens any curvature and improves both function and appearance as your child grows.

Early assessment helps us plan the safest, most appropriate timing for repair and ensures your little one gets the best start.

17/12/2025

Pectus excavatum is a condition where the breastbone (sternum) grows inward, creating a sunken appearance in the chest.
It often becomes more noticeable as children grow – especially during adolescence.

What parents may notice:

• A dip or indentation in the chest
• Chest asymmetry
• Shortness of breath during exercise (in some children)
• A child feeling self-conscious about their appearance.

For many children, the condition is mild and requires only monitoring, but, in more pronounced cases, it can affect breathing, posture, exercise tolerance ... and confidence!

How it’s managed:

• Assessment and imaging to determine the severity
• Physiotherapy and posture exercises for milder cases
• Surgical correction (Nuss procedure or alternatives) for severe or symptomatic cases.

Surgery, when needed, can significantly improve both chest shape and overall function — with excellent long-term outcomes.

A reassuring note: most children with pectus excavatum live active, healthy lives.

Early evaluation helps guide whether monitoring or intervention is best.

16/12/2025

As parents, it’s natural to hope symptoms will improve on their own. While that’s true for many minor illnesses, some signs should never be delayed, as they may indicate a serious surgical problem.

Seek urgent medical attention if your child has:

Severe or worsening tummy pain that doesn’t settle

• Green (bile) vomiting
• A swollen, hard or painful abdomen
• A groin lump or bulge that becomes painful or doesn’t reduce
• Sudden testicular swelling or severe scrotal pain
• Unexplained re**al bleeding
• A sudden refusal to eat, paired with extreme tiredness or lethargy
• Ongoing vomiting with signs of dehydration (dry mouth, fewer wet nappies, sunken eyes)
• Intense or unusual crying that suggests pain and doesn’t respond to comfort.

These are not “wait until morning” symptoms. They are red flags that may require urgent surgical care to prevent complications or long-term damage.

Trust your intuition!

If something feels wrong, it’s always safer to check: early action allows us to intervene gently, safely and with the best possible outcome for your child.

Because in paediatric surgery, hours – and sometimes minutes – truly matter.

15/12/2025

A central line is a special type of IV placed via one of the large veins in the chest, neck or groin.

It gives doctors safe, reliable access to your child’s bloodstream when ordinary drip lines aren’t strong or stable enough.

Central lines are used when children need:

• Long-term medication (such as antibiotics or chemotherapy)
• IV nutrition (TPN) when they cannot eat safely
• Frequent blood tests without repeated needle pricks
• Fluid support and monitoring during serious illness or surgery.

Why Central Lines Matter

A central line reduces stress, protects little veins and helps care teams deliver treatment smoothly and safely.

For many children, it becomes a quiet but important part of their treatment journey – one that allows healing to happen with fewer interruptions.

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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