Manchester Memorial Hospital | Healthy Connections | Summer 2018

manchestermemorial.org 3 School days ahead! Schedule a checkup before the first bell rings There may be a lot of things on your must-do list to get your child ready for school, but one item near the top should be a trip to the doctor’s office. It’s a great way to make sure your child is healthy and ready for another year of learning. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other experts recommend annual doctor visits for all school-age children and teens. These appoint- ments are important for a number of reasons: Vaccinations The doctor can make sure your child is protected against a host of serious diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and cervi- cal cancer. It’s important for children of all ages to get their vaccinations at the recommended times. Milestones and signs Regular exams help the doctor become familiar with your child’s development and growth. That can make it easier to spot emerging health problems. Guidance As your child gets older, routine checkups provide time for your doctor to discuss important health issues, such as smoking, drinking, drugs, nutri- tion, sexual activity and depression. Finally, don’t forget about dental health too. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among kids, reports the American Dental Association. A dental exam should be part of your child’s back-to-school routine. Does your child need a doctor? Ours are accepting newpatients. Please call Manchester Pediatrics Clinic at (606) 599-0396 tomake an appointment. Mosquito management 101 4 tips for stopping those risky bites W E’VE ALL HAD those itchy red welts that tell us one pesky mosquito—or even 10—got the better of us. Usually, we don’t worry too much about the little bumps that go away after a day or two. But mosqui- toes can carry germs, like the West Nile virus, that may make us sick. West Nile tends to be a yearly threat in the U.S., especially during the summer. Although most people infected with the virus have no symptoms or only relatively mild ones—such as fever, headache or nausea—some people be- come seriously ill or even die from the infection. To help reduce your risk of West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses: 1. USE A REPELLENT. Insect repellent is key for chasing away insects like mosquitoes. Look for an Environmental Protection Agency-registered repellent with one of these ingredients: ● ● DEET ● ● Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023 and icaridin) ● ● IR3535 ● ● Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) Just remember not to put insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old, and don’t apply repellent on any child’s hands, eyes, mouth, and cuts or irritated skin. 2. COVER UP. Long sleeves, long pants and socks protect you from getting too much sun—and they put a layer between you and mosquitoes. However, since mosquitoes can still bite through thin fabric, spray repellent on clothing too. 3. KEEP A TIGHT SEAL ON YOUR HOME. Screens on doors and windows stop mosquitoes from coming inside. 4. DUMP THE BREEDING POOL. Flowerpots. Buckets. Birdbaths. Pet water dishes. Anything with standing water is a perfect place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Water-covered eggs hatch and become adult mosquitoes in one week. So empty any standing water at least once a week. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health HOW AREWE DOING We constantly strive to offer the very best care and customer service and appreciate your feed- back. We welcome a letter or email detailing your patient care experience. Excellent, good, bad, indifferent…let us knowhowwe are doing! Write to: Patient Satisfaction Manchester Memorial Hospital, 210 Marie Langdon Drive, Manchester, KY 40962 Or send an email via: manchestermemorial.org Family health ?