A Healthy Start To A New School Year
Buying school supplies and new clothes is all part of sending the kids back to school. Making sure your child is healthy, fit and ready for the coming year should be, too. Here are three healthy steps to put at the top of your school check list.
1. Schedule A Physical
If you haven’t done so already, consider scheduling an annual physical exam for your child with your pediatrician. The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends an annual exam for children under age six, and an exam every two years for older children. A physical exam is especially important if your child in entering kindergarten or seventh grade, a time when many schools require it. Also, your child may need a physical exam if they are a transfer student or planning to participate in organized sports. Annual physical exams help you and your doctor monitor the health and development of your child, checking height and weight, cholesterol, vision, hearing and blood pressure.
It’s also a good time to discuss any social, emotional or developmental issues with the pediatrician.
2. Check Food Allergies
It’s estimated that up to six percent of children under the age of four suffer from some form of food allergy. Food allergies are caused when the body’s immune system reacts as if the food product is harmful. The most common food allergies are milk and dairy products, eggs, fish, shellfish (such as shrimp and lobster), nuts, soy, wheat and gluten. In some cases, food allergies can lead to serious medical conditions and can even be life-threatening. If your child is experiencing chronic gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or other unpleasant reactions after eating, such as itching and swelling of the lips, tongue and mouth, talk to your pediatrician.
3. Update Vaccinations
An annual physical exam is also the ideal time to make sure your child’s immunizations are up-to-date. If your child is attending kindergarten or first grade for the first time, they will probably need booster shots for DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis), MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), and the polio vaccine. Older children, usually around age 12, may require a DTaP booster and a MCV4 shot for meningococcal, the bacterial infection that causes meningitis.
Vaccination requirements vary from state to state so be sure to talk to your pediatrician about what specific immunizations your child needs.
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