Archive for March, 2008
Basically, vaccines work by tricking your body’s immune system into thinking you already have a particular disease. Here’s why. When we get an infection, our bodies produce antibodies. According to NIAID, antibodies help fight the disease and often stay in the body even once the disease goes away. As a result, they continue to protect the body from future exposures to the disease. Continue reading ‘How do vaccines work?’
A number of diseases that once killed thousands of people each year are no longer as widespread a threat. In many cases, this is due to vaccinations.
- Trust your judgment. Your doctor knows about children — but you know your child. Feel free to speak your concerns. If your child eats no vegetables or has terrible tantrums, admit it and get the help or reassurance you need. If there are serious problems at home that affect your child, say so. Your doctor’s primary interest is your child’s health and well-being. Continue reading ‘When Meeting With Your Child’s Doctor:’
- Plan for the wait. The roughest part of a trip to the doctor can be waiting for your name to be called. For small children, bring diapering supplies with you, plus small toys or books and a light snack. Let older children bring books, handheld video games, or anything else they like to amuse themselves with. Continue reading ‘At the Doctor’s Office:’
When You Talk With Your Child Before the Visit:
Published by March 1st, 2008 in Children's Health. Closed
- Be open. No matter what their age, tell your children in advance when they are going to the doctor and why. They need to know what to expect. It helps even young children to know that a “shot” can protect them from getting sick or that a test will let the doctor know which medicine will make them well. Continue reading ‘When You Talk With Your Child Before the Visit:’
Excerpted from: Guide to Talking to Your Doctor, American Medical Association, 2001.
Being in the hospital can be upsetting for your child, as well as the whole family. Recognizing the common fears that your child has at each stage of growth and development can help you in preparing him/her for the experience ahead. Some of the ways to prepare your family include the following: Continue reading ‘Preparing a Child for Surgery’
Children with Special Health Care Needs
Published by February 23rd, 2008 in Children's Health. Closed More than 30 percent of children, or 20 million patients, now have some kind of long-standing medical problem - representing up to 24 percent of all emergency visits by children under age 18. Referred to as “children with special health care needs,” these patients include children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, asthma, hemophilia, autism, diabetes, and various genetic disorders.
When giving prescription medication to a child, it’s important for parents and caregivers to fully understand what the medicine does and how it should be used. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some the questions you might want to ask the pediatrician include: Continue reading ‘Children and Prescriptions’
