Health Signs - Summer 2012 - (Page 6)

Keeping Kids Healthy from the Start Pediatricians stress the importance of preventive medicine I 6 From left, Washington Township medical Foundation pediatricians Amy Tun, m.D., Swetha Kowsik, m.D., and Courtney LaCaze-Adams, m.D. All three physicians are board-certified and are committed to keeping infants and young children healthy. If there’s one universal element that all parents share, it’s that they worry about their children—and wonder what they can do to keep them healthy, safe and happy. One of the best ways to help keep infants and young children healthy and lower their risk of illness is through immunizations and preemptive medicine, according to Swetha Kowsik, M.D., a pediatrician with Washington Township Medical Foundation. Kowsik says that immunization is not only a cornerstone to wellness, but visits for routine vaccinations also help to cultivate a strong relationship between parents, children and their pediatrician. “Immunizations have revolutionized health care and help keep children healthy for years,” she explains, calling immunizations one of the most important preventive measures that parents can take for their child’s health. “Beyond the health care benefits, immunizations are a vital part of a pediatrician’s practice. They facilitate education and communication between the pediatrician, parent and child.” potentially dangerous illnesses can be prevented through routine vaccinations, and she adds that preventing an illness—whether the flu or chickenpox—is always better. “While our training allows us to treat children after they have acquired an illness, we have also been taught to equally—if not more—emphasize preventive medicine,” she says. “The value of preventive medicine is that you often cannot predict whether a unique individual will have a mild or severe reaction to an illness, and prevention can avoid that.” The Pertussis Problem Recently, according to Kowsik, community resistance to pertussis—whooping cough—began to decline. A highly contagious disease, whooping cough is transmitted through direct contact with fluids from the nose or mouth of infected people. “In 2010, endemic levels of whooping cough were reached in California, resulting in 10 infant deaths,” she says. “After this, a law was created requiring children entering seventh through 12th grades to show proof of a booster for pertussis before starting school. This booster is the Tdap vaccine, which covers tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.” these sources can be misleading and confusing. Some of the best websites to refer to regarding vaccinations are: • cdc.gov/vaccines • healthychildren.org (developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics) • who.int/en (for a global perspective on vaccine-preventable diseases) Additionally, she cautions parents to be wary of invalid or misleading research surrounding early childhood vaccinations, and she urges parents to have an open conversation with their child’s pediatrician before coming to any conclusions. Ultimately, Kowsik says, vaccines are scientifically proven to prevent diseases that have caused so much harm and pain to children throughout the years. “For the temporary pinch of a vaccine needle, children are granted years of protection from deadly diseases. It is our duty as pediatricians to care for our patients, and immunizing is one of the best ways of doing so.” • An Opportunity for Education Each appointment for a vaccination, she says, is a learning opportunity for parents and an ideal time to ask questions of their child’s health care provider. “Families are asked to return multiple times for vaccinations—especially in the first year of life—so it is a way to foster a relationship between them and their health care provider. Each time a child comes in for vaccinations, it is an opportunity for the physician to educate the family.” While it’s inevitable that children will get sick, many Find The RighT Physician FoR youR Family To find a pediatrician near you, visit Washington Hospital’s website at whhs.com and click “Find my Physician,” or call 800-963-7070 for a referrral to a doctor. Reliable Resources Kowsik says the best way for parents to stay up-to-date on their child’s immunization schedule is to talk to their son or daughter’s pediatrician. She adds that while the Internet is filled with resources regarding vaccinations, some of Summer 2012 http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines http://www.healthychildren.org http://www.who.int/en http://www.whhs.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Signs - Summer 2012

Health Signs - Summer 2012
High-tech care: WHHS is on the cutting-edge when it comes to technology
Learn what the future holds for Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Pediatricians at WHHS are working to give kids a healthy start in life
Find out how to tell if it’s heartburn or something more serious

Health Signs - Summer 2012