UAB experts provide appointment tips to make your child ready to return to school.As summer comes to an end and the school year begins, parents may think about steps they can take to protect their child’s health this academic year. Experts from the University of Alabama in Birmingham are here to help their four appointments, parents should take their child as they return to school.
Appointment of Primary Health Care
Before they return to school, David KimberlinMD, co-director of Uab and Childish Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, it is recommended that children visit the pediatrician or physician of family practice for their annual appointment.
“All school children should have annual examinations from their doctor,” Kimberlin said. “Evaluation is comprehensive and treats both physical and mental health.”
During these pediatric visits, doctors can help determine if children are healthy and develop as they should. They also help healthcare providers to deal with any problems early when they can be easier to deal with. Parents will also have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about their child’s behavior or development. The timing of the annual influenza vaccines and Covid should also be discussed.
Dentist
When parents carry children to their dental appointment, pediatric dentists can detect dental problems early and manage proper treatment immediately to prevent further complications. While UAB experts suggest that every child have their first visit before the age of 1, Stephen Mitchell, DMD, a professor at the UAB Dentistry School, says that if the child does not have a dentist yet, summer is a great time to find them.
“It is better for a child to have a dental home that usually see at least twice a year,” Mitchell said. “If a child has not seen a dentist or have seen one in several years, we recommend planning a visit to make sure they have no dental problem that can cause discomfort and get them out of learning while at school.”
Mitchell says diet is vital to maintaining a child’s oral health and encourages parents to reduce the number of sugar foods and drinks that children consume throughout the school year. It is recommended to replace sugar drinks with water, simple milk or any drink that has 10 or fewer calories per serving.
“We want to take precautions to prevent the decomposition of tooth decay, but that does not mean removing all sugary drinks and foods from their diet,” Mitchell said. “When fun events or special occasions come as a birthday party or Halloween, let them enjoy themselves and have fun. After the end of the event, parents can help them return to their daily routine.”
For children who may be thoughtful for dental visits, Mitchell says it is best to avoid doing a great deal of negotiation from it. To help prepare them for a visit, parents can show their baby videos from siblings, parents or other children going to the dentist to help them better understand what to expect during an appointment.
Appointment
Eye examination at the beginning of the school year is a great way to make sure that vision problems will not prohibit any classroom learning.
“The vision is an integral part of the school experience,” said Nicholas Onken, OD, a pediatric optometrist in the UAB Eye Care. “Make sure there are no visual or ocular obstacles to learning should be close to the top of the list of things you need to check before school starts. In addition, children’s eyes change much more often than adults’ eyes, doing annual exams a significant part of each child’s life.”
During an eye examination before school starts, optometters can find problems that may affect a child’s ability to see the board, screens or printed materials that could play a major role in the performance of a child at school and develop a therapeutic plan. Many vision conditions, such as narrowness, respond better to treatment if caught earlier.
Some signs that a child may have vision problems include squinting, moving closer to television, holding the reading material very close, looking out of the corner of the eye to watch objects, rubbing the eyes, closing an eye or reading with a finger. If a child struggles academically, this could also show a vision problem.
“A complete eye test examines much more than simple visual acuity,” Onken said. “It also includes an evaluation of the health of the external and internal parts of the eye and how well the eyes work, including the capacity of focus, group and follow -up.
Vaccination appointment
To prevent children from assigning diseases that can be affected by vaccines, experts recommend that parents keep their children up to date on recommended vaccines for their age group.
“Vaccines help provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life -threatening diseases,” he said Erin DeneayMD, Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medical and Clinical Medical Director for the Family Medicine Clinic in UAB Hospital-Highlandsmall. “By vaccinating your child, you not only protect them from the disease, but also protect classmates, friends, relatives and others in the community.”
Immunizations are the best defense of the prevention of disease spreading and ensuring better immunomodialism for children. Vaccines help teach a child’s immune system to recognize a virus or bacteria before being exposed, so that when they come into contact with this virus or bacteria in the future, their immune system struggles without the person getting sick.
For children who may be slightly nervous to get their vaccines, Delaney says that a parent’s support is very important. It encourages parents to take time and explain to children how their vaccines protect them from something that could hurt them and reward them with something they enjoy after they have received their vaccines.
Parents and guardians can find a list of recommended aged -age vaccines in Disease Control and Prevention Centers website. To make an immune appointment, contact your child’s local health care provider or the Health Department of the county.
