• Featured Condtion/Disease: RWI


    We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday.  Today's topic is Recreational Water Illness (RWI).

    Definition

    Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Recreational water illnesses can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea.

    Most Common Areas

    RWIs can be spread through use of swimming pools, hot tubs, decorative water fountains, oceans, lakes, and rivers.

    More Information

    To get more information about RWI, click here.  


    *Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.
     

    more
  • Oil Spill Off the Coast of Florida

    Most of us are familiar with the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.  There's now a web site to track the spill's dimensions.   Developed by NOAA with the EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Interior, the site, http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/,  offers you a “one-stop shop” for spill response information.  The site integrates the latest data the federal responders have about the oil spill’s trajectory with fishery area closures, wildlife data and place-based Gulf Coast resources — such as pinpointed locations of oiled shoreline and current positions of deployed research ships — into one customizable interactive map.

    The Center for Disease Control also has a page dedicated to the potential effects of the oil spill should it appear on your local coast line, here. The CDC mentions four possible categories that you may be exposed to hazardous substances related to the spill:
    • Air
    • Water
    • Food
    • Dispersants


    more
  • Featured Condtion/Disease: Down Syndrome

    We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday.  Today's topic is Down Syndrome.

    Definition:

    Down Syndrome is caused by having an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are part of the nucleus of the cell, containing the information that makes up a person. Individuals with Down Syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. A typical child has two copies of chromosome 21. Children with Down Syndrome have three copies of this chromosome, causing changes in the development of the body and the brain. 

    Signs

    • Slanted eyes with folds of skin at the inner corners.
    • Short, broad hands with a single crease along the palm.
    • Flat bridge of the nose.
    • Short, low-set ears.
    • Short neck.
    • Small head.
    • Tongue sticks out.
    • Broad feet with short toes.
    • Low muscle tone, causing muscles to feel floppy.
    • Levels of mental retardation vary by child.
    More Information

    To get more information about Down Syndrome, click here. 

    *Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site. 

    more
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Welcome to the PCLS Health Care Blog!

This blog was created as part of the E-Government services offered by the Pasco County Library System. Our intent is to provide the citizens of Pasco County, Florida electronic resources and information about Health Care in Pasco County.

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Go Here to watch or listen to the latest podcasts from the CDC about the H1N1 Virus.

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Prescription Drug Help

Health Care Providers

Florida Discount Drug Card Program

If you are 60 years old or older and without prescription drug coverage or who fall into the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage gap; or under age 60, without prescription drug coverage, and with an annual family income of less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level you may use this program. Qualifying incomes include those below the following:


$32,490 (for an individual)

$43,710 (for a family of two)

$66,150 (for a family of four)


For general information: http://www.floridadiscountdrugcard.com/

To enroll go to: http://www.floridadiscountdrugcard.com

Or call 1-866-341-8894 to enroll by telephone


Pasco County Prescription Discount Card


You can pick these up at any library branch or at the health department to receive a discount on your prescriptions.


For information 1-877-321-2652 or visit their website www.caremark.com/naco