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Newsletter
In this issue:
Immunization Update
Are Your Teens Getting Enough Sleep?
Watch Out for Caffeine!
It's Time for Flu Shots!
Keeping Your Baby Healthy This Winter
Help For Your Child's Sore Throat
Office FYI's
Immunization Update
Vaccines help prevent infectious disease and save lives. Childhood immunizations are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country, including polio, measles, diptheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, and tetanus. While the US has near record low cases of vaccine-preventable diseases, the viruses and bacteria that cause them still exist. Vaccines prevent disease in the people who receive them and protect those that come into contact with unvaccinated individuals.
In addition to the standard childhood immunizations, there are several new vaccines available for children. Menactra is the meningitis vaccine, and it is given to children over the age of 11 years. Tdap is the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster given to children over the age of 11. Rota Teq is a vaccine against rotavirus which causes gastrointestinal illness, and it is administered to infants. It is a series of three shots and must be started at age two months.
Here is a list of regularly scheduled physical exams and immunizations exam :
2 months: Exam and immunizations.
4 months: Exam and immunizations.
6 months: Exam and immunizations.
9 months: Exam; no immunizations unless needed for catch up
1 year: Exam and immunizations.
15 months: Exam and immunizations.
18 months: Exam; no immunizations unless needed for catch up
2 years: Exam and immunizations.
3 years: Exam; no immunizations unless needed for catch up
4 to 5 years: Exam and immunizations.
After 5 years of age, our office recommends physical exams every one to two years, with a booster of Tdap (11 years and older) and Menactra (11 years and older). If a child has had only one varicella vaccine, they will need a booster (6 years and older).
Are Your Teens Getting Enough Sleep?
Recent research by the National Sleep Foundation showed that teens don’t sleep enough. It is recommended that teens get about nine hours of sleep per night, but most don’t get that much on school nights. Consequently, they oversleep and are late for school, fall asleep in class, and doze off during homework. The research also showed that teens drive while drowsy, and that’s dangerous.
One reason teens don’t get enough sleep is changing sleep rhythms during the teen years. Most teens feel more alert at night and find it difficult to fall asleep.
Here are some tips to help your teen get a good night’s sleep:
- Set a regular bedtime that allows for 8 hours of sleep.
- Relax before going to bed, but not with electronic devices.
- Avoid bright lights at bedtime, and turn on the bright light in the morning.
- Stay away from caffeine after noon.
Sleep recommendations for children:
- 6 to 7 years: 10-1/2 to 11 hours.
- 8 to 9 years: 10 to 10-1/2 hours.
- 10 to 11 years: 9-1/2 to 10 hours.
- 12 to 13 years: 9 to 9-1/2 hours.
- 14 and older: 8 to 9 hours.
Watch Out for Caffeine!
Teens and preteens are consuming caffeinated beverages at an increasing rate. Milkshake-like creations that are sold at coffeeshops appeal to younger customers. They are sweet and creamy and lack the bitterness of coffee, but the caffeine (and calories!) is there. Beware also of the so-called “power” drinks that are new on the market. These are loaded with caffeine, and teens are the target.
Short-term side effects of caffeine are heartburn and stomach problems, headaches, jitters and hyperactivity. Sleep difficulties can also result from too much caffeine. And sleep difficulties can lead to problems in the classroom.
So monitor the amount of caffeine your child is consuming. Offer caffeine-free beverages such as milk, 100% fruit juice, and caffeine-free soda as an alternative.
It's Time for Flu Shots!
With the arrival of fall, we know that flu season is approaching, and it’s time to consider whether a flu shot would be appropriate for your child. Flu shots will be given starting soon. Shots will be given Tuesday through Thursday by appointment. This shot is for respiratory flu only. Children must be at least six months of age. Children ages eight years and under may need two shots one month apart if they’ve never had flu vaccine before. Children eight years and older need only one shot. The cost of flu vaccine is $35.00. If you feel you would like your child to have the vaccine, please call our office at 327-1900 to schedule an appointment.
Keeping Your Baby Healthy This Winter
With the arrival of fall, we know that flu season is approaching, and it’s time to consider whether a flu shot would be appropriate for your child. Flu shots will be given starting soon. Shots will be given Tuesday through Thursday by appointment. This shot is for respiratory flu only. Children must be at least six months of age. Children ages eight years and under may need two shots one month apart if they’ve never had flu vaccine before. Children eight years and older need only one shot. The cost of flu vaccine is $35.00. If you feel you would like your child to have the vaccine, please call our office at 327-1900 to schedule an appointment.
With the coming of fall, respiratory viruses are all around. You can help your baby avoid the colds and other viral illnesses of the season by taking the following precautions.
* Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of germs. This goes for caregivers and siblings as well.
* Avoid sharing cups and utensils.
* Keep your baby away from anyone who is ill.
* If you are breastfeeding, continue to nurse; it can help boost your baby’s immunity.
Most upper respiratory infections are mild. Symptoms include a funny or stuffy nose, a sore throat, mild cough, and a low-grade fever.
Soothe the symptoms by continuing to nurse or bottle feed, remembering that your baby may feed more slowly. Saline nose drops and a cool mist vaporizer may help. Infant acetaminophen can relieve a fever.
Call for an appointment if you notice symptoms such as poor appetite, restlessness, high fever or cough and difficulty breathing or wheezing.
Help for Your Child's Sore Throat
Whether it’s tonsillitis or an ordinary sore throat, there are simple things you can do to help make your child feel more comfortable:
· Offer plenty of fluids and soft foods such as noncitric fruit juice, soup, ice pops, Jell-O, smoothies and warm decaf tea with honey.
· Give nonaspirin pain relievers such as acetaminophen, with a doctor’s approval.
· Try cough drops, throat lozenges, throat sprays or salt-water gargles.
· Run a cool-mist vaporizer in your child’s bedroom to help keep throat tissue moist and promote healing.
Office FYI's
Pediatrics, P.C. has joined the information age!
Check out the new Pediatrics, P.C. website—www.pediatricspckazoo.com. On our new website, you will find helpful information about our office, articles from past newsletters, updates about office hours, etc.
We are also collecting e-mail addresses so that we may send appointment reminders and other notices to our patients. Participation in our e-mail program is strictly voluntary, and we will not share your e-mail address with any other office or agency.
Insurance Information
It is imperative that we have current, accurate information before we file any insurance claims for your child. Our patient records must include your insurance plan, subscriber gender, birthdate, social security number and employer, as well as your child’s social security number. Insurance companies may reject a claim that does not contain the correct information, so it is to your benefit to provide us with this information. Working together, we can get insurance claims paid in a timely manner.
Fall/Winter
2006
Office Hours by Appointment Only:
Monday-Friday
8 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Saturday
8 A.M. to Noon
Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving: Thursday November 22: office closed, regular hours resume on Friday and Saturday.
Christmas Day, Monday December 25: office closed, regular hours resume on Tuesday.
New Years Day, Monday January 1: office closed, regular hours resume on Tuesday.
If you call for an appointment between 8 AM and 4 PM, we will see your sick child on the day you call for an appointment.
There is a doctor on call after the office closes. Please call the answering service at
384-7710 to contact a doctor, for emergencies only.