BOARDMAN — People may be disregarding children’s annual checkups during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could prevent other child health issues from being diagnosed.
“We recognize the pandemic can be scary. … If they weren’t coming in for these wellness visits, there are other things that could be even more scary that are being ignored,” said Dr. Therese Linnon of Akron Children’s Hospital in Boardman.
“Although we don’t want them to have COVID, if they’re not coming in for their regular immunizations, they may be missing out on protection from other infections as well.”
Kids under age 3 should have more periodic visits, while those older than 3 usually can have one annual visit.
During these routine checkups, “we address a variety of issues” including vaccines, assessing the child’s development, dealing with daily concerns such as nutrition or behavior, and assessing mental health — especially during the pandemic, Linnon said.
Richelle Mills of Warren said her daughters, Layla Collins, 4, and Kaydence Collins, 6, recently went to their annual visit. “Just getting back there in the public, seeing people … I think it definitely is good for some normalcy,” Mills said.
Linnon said that while going out in public during a pandemic can be intimidating, it is still important to make sure children are seen by their physician.
She urges parents to stay in contact with their child’s doctor during the pandemic to ensure that checkups are not going unnoticed, and also realize that health care offices have protocol in place to keep everyone safe.
“If they’re coming to our offices, they ought to know we have made it as safe as possible,” Linnon said.
In her own office, for example, sick patients are kept separate from well patients, leaving no contact between them.
“If they’re coming in for a well visit, their exposure to their sick peers is extremely minimized,” she said.
Once patients are greeted at the door, they are separated into different waiting areas.
Everyone older than age 2 is getting a mask, Linnon said.
Echoing the doctor’s sentiments, Mills said that going to the doctor during a pandemic is critical.
“At this time, I still think it’s important to keep up with the routine checkups, to make sure everything with them is fine as long as the doctor’s office is taking precautions they need to be” during the pandemic, Mills said.
afox@tribtoday.com
"still" - Google News
June 14, 2020 at 11:02AM
https://ift.tt/3hssuzu
Checkups still crucial for children | News, Sports, Jobs - Youngstown Vindicator
"still" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35pEmfO
https://ift.tt/2YsogAP
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Checkups still crucial for children | News, Sports, Jobs - Youngstown Vindicator"
Post a Comment