Newswise — MAYWOOD, IL – Though summer hasn’t even officially started, it’s not too early to start thinking about your child’s back-to-school physicals and making sure they are up to date on their vaccines. “August is one of our busiest months. Doctors’ offices are jam-packed with last-minute appointments, so get a jumpstart on it now,” said Heidi Renner, MD, primary care physician at Loyola University Health System and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
When heading to the doctor’s office don’t forget your school’s required physical forms. Also, if you have an updated immunization record, bring it along as well.
“To get the most out of your visit be sure to talk to the doctor about your child’s growth and ask to see his or her growth chart. This is helpful in assessing a child’s nutrition/caloric intake and helps to make sure they’re on track with a healthy diet and appropriate exercise,” said Renner.
In addition to diet she also suggests asking about:• Sleep• Allergies• Medications• Development
“Though no one likes to get shots, vaccines are an integral part of keeping kids and our community safe. They work to safeguard children from illnesses and death caused by infectious diseases and protect our kids by helping prepare their bodies to fight often serious, and potentially deadly diseases,” said Renner.
Vaccines have helped to nearly eradicate many of the diseases that were leading causes of death in children only a few decades ago. Here are the main immunizations your kids need before heading off to school.• When entering kindergarten your child should receive the following vaccinations:o Measles, Mumps and Rubella, better known as the MMRo Polioo Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussiso Chicken Pox
Most likely your child received these immunizations as an infant. This second round of shots boosts the immunity. • In sixth grade (at age 11 or 12) your child should receive the following vaccinations:o Chicken Pox Booster (if your child has not had two by this time)o Pertussis (whooping cough), Diptheria and Tetanus Booster (Tdap)o Meningitis (this is not a booster)
A meningitis booster vaccine should be given at age 16 and is now required prior to starting 12th grade in the state of Illinois.
“Yearly physicals are a great time to touch base with your child’s physician to make sure everyone is on the same page. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. We can’t help you if we don’t know a problem exists,” said Renner
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###About Loyola University Health SystemLoyola University Health System (LUHS) is a member of Trinity Health. Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, LUHS is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and more than 30 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. The medical center campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. At the heart of the medical center campus is a 559-licensed-bed hospital that houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children's Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as the LUC Stritch School of Medicine, the LUC Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb campus in Melrose Park includes the 255-licensed-bed community hospital, the Professional Office Building housing 150 private practice clinics, the Adult Day Care, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness, Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center at Melrose Park.
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