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First steps for health care Well visits: An important part of child health care E xpecting parents will soon discover that having a child sparks many changes in their lives. As infancy rolls into toddlerhood and beyond, there is usually one constant in the busy lives of new families: the pediatrician. Children visit their pediatricians at regular intervals, and these doctors are invaluable sources of support and care. Pediatricians provide well-child services throughout youngsters' childhoods. Health checkups start from the day the baby is born and continue until a child reaches adulthood. JAMA Pediatrics says there are many benefits of well-child visits. One of the key aspects of these checkups is tracking a child's growth and development, including physical, cognitive, emotional and social progress. Another component of well-child visits is to prevent injury and illness. When parents come in for these visits, the staff will likely go over the appropriate safety protocol for that child's age and milestone. This may include car seat safety checks, preventing falls, choking hazards, and safety when entering school. Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics developed a set of comprehensive health guidelines for well-child care, and many pediatricians follow these schedule and screening guidelines. Visits often start at one- month intervals, and then increase by two- and three- month durations until the child is 2 years old. After 2.5 years of age, annual visits become the norm. The reason that earlier visits occur so often is because early childhood is a period of rapid development. In addition, various vaccinations are recommended to protect children from communicable diseases. These immunizations must be administered according to schedule to be most effective. Well-child visits are also opportunities for screening tests and physical examinations. Exams typically involve checking blood pressure, vision, hearing, and general blood tests and urinalysis. Many parents use checkups as an opportunity to ask questions about development and ensure that children are safe to participate in school sports and extracurricular activities as well. Parents can come equipped with questions to ask the doctor during well- child appointments to make the most of their visits. The AAP says well-child visits should begin from 3 to 5 days old. Therefore, expecting parents should find a pediatrician for their child as soon as possible to ensure that well-child visits can begin immediately after the child is born. n Well-child visits begin when a child is a few days old and continue until adulthood. Get the facts on measles to remain protected T he American Red Cross says the United States is presently experiencing the highest number of measles cases since the disease was considered eliminated in the country back in 2000. Seventy-five new cases were reported in one week in May 2019, bringing the total confirmed cases to 839 across 23 states at that point. Canada reported six confirmed cases at the same time. Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the mucus of infected people. It is spread through coughing and sneezing. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of those close to that individual who are not immune will be infected, says the CDC. Early symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Within two or three days of such symptoms surfacing, small white spots may appear in the mouth before a red measles rash on the face and body develops. The best protection against measles is a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which provides long-lasting protection. Children typically receive two doses of MMR — one as an infant and one between the ages of 4 and 6. Those concerned about measles can speak with their doctors about a measles booster and the various risk factors for the virus. n A disease once thought to have been eradicated in developed coun- tries has become a newsmaker once again, with reported cases affecting various areas of North America. 12 February 2, 2020 Healthy Living A Marketing Supplement of the Marin Independent Journal | marinij.com