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11 years ago
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First Time Pasco Student - Health Requirements
Do you have a child going to a public school for the first time this year in Pasco or Florida? You will need proof that your child's immunization records are up to date and a physical. Both are sometimes referred to as "blue (for immunization) and gold (for physicals) forms". However, not all physicians or health care facilities provide proof on blue or gold forms - the schools will accept either on any color of paper as proof.
You can get immunizations shots at either your child's physician office, a health care facility, or the Pasco health department. A list of of immunizations by age is available at the Pasco County School Board site. A schedule of Pasco Health Departments is here. Physicals can be performed at your child's physician office or a health care facility. more -
Featured Condtion/Disease: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).
Definition
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. Often, a person with an FASD has a mix of these problems.
Characteristics and Behaviors of Children with FASD
- Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum)
- Small head size
- Shorter-than-average height
- Low body weight
- Poor coordination
- Hyperactive behavior
- Difficulty paying attention
- Poor memory
- Difficulty in school (especially with math)
- Learning disabilities
- Speech and language delays
- Intellectual disability or low IQ
- Poor reasoning and judgment skills
- Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
- Vision or hearing problems
- Problems with the heart, kidney, or bones
To get more information about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, click here.
*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site. more -
Featured Condtion/Disease: Autism Spectrum Disorder
We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Definition
Autism Spectrum Disorders are a group of disorders typified by a child's problems with social skills, effective communication and behavior. Autism Spectrum Disorders make a child experience the world differently from the way most other children do. It affects the brain and can make it hard for them to understand social situations and to get along with other people. Each child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder has different symptoms. Some children may have mild symptoms and other children, more severe symptoms.
In the diagnostic manual used by professionals, these disorders are called Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Autism (Autistic Disorder), Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger's Disorder (or Asperger Syndrome), Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett Syndrome are all in this category.
The different types of Autism Spectrum Disorders can be confusing. Sometimes parents will see different professionals, and their child will receive a different "label" from each one. For example, a neurologist might say the child has PDD-NOS, while the psychologist says the child has autism. In other instances a doctor might say the child has Asperger's, and another doctor could say the child has PDD-NOS or autism.
Remember that most times the specific label isn't really that important. What is important is that a professional has recognized that your child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Then, based on your child's individual strengths and weaknesses, a treatment and educational plan can be developed. A child with a diagnosis of autism may well be qualified for more services.
Everyone is different, and every person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder has particular strengths and areas of growth. Your encouragement, love and support help your child have a full, happy and independent life.
Symptons
- As a baby, he/she does not imitate other children and does not reach out to you.
- Doesn't look up or respond to his/her name. May seem deaf at times.
- Does not seek you out for attention or for only social reasons.
- Does not point or gesture.
- Voice and facial expressions can be flat, lacking "feeling" and may not match what the child is saying.
- Difficulty understanding what people around them think and feel.
- Delay in speaking, or has speech and then loses it.
- Speaks in great detail about one subject of topic (for example, only wants to talk about dinosaurs).
- Has difficulty having a conversation (back and forth)
- Has difficulty talking about abstract ideas or emotions; takes everything at face value.
- Does not develop age-appropriate peer relationships (does not play well or have friendships with same-age children), and has difficulty mixing with others.
- Obsessive (must do something the same way each time) or doesn't play in a usual way. (for example, needing to line up toys or spin objects over and over again).
- Eats only certain foods or only likes clothes that feel a certain way.
- Has a hard time relating with people around them.
- Does not handle change well.
- Problems with motor skills such as tying shoes, buttoning a shirt and handwriting.
- Upset when normal routines are changed in any way.
- May smell or lick toys.
- May react strongly to loud noises such as car horns.
To read more information about Autism Spectrum Disorder, click here.
*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site more -
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.
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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
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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.
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.
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Featured Condtion/Disease: Asthma
We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Asthma.
Defintion
Asthma is a respiratory (the breathing system including the lungs, mouth and nose) disease. An asthma attack happens when something blocks the flow of air into the child's lungs. Asthma is different from other types of breathing problems because the block allowing air to enter the lungs is reversible. (It can be fixed.) Asthma is the most common disease in children and the leading cause of children missing school and children being admitted to hospitals.
Symptons
The most common symptoms (signs) of asthma are problems breathing, like wheezing, coughing and/or shortness of breath. Your child may start out feeling a tightness in the chest and be unable to play or exercise normally. Then he or she may start wheezing or having heavy breathing and shortness of breath. Other signs of asthma are shortness of breath or coughing when exercising and coughing at night even without shortness of breath. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Most problems with asthma are worse at night. They also seem to be more severe in boys and in children under 5 years old.
More Information
To get more information about Asthma, 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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