Childhood is a period of learning, development, and immunity-building…but it's also the time when kids are the most susceptible to illness. Knowing how to prevent and treat common childhood illnesses is an important part of being a responsible parent — which is where child disease prevention, regular visits to the child doctor, and following proper child vaccination schedules all help to keep your child healthy and thriving.
The Importance of Prevention Over Cure
The best way to keep children from getting sick is through preventive care. Practicing good hygiene, providing a balanced diet and clean environment are good child disease prevention practices. When visiting the child doctor regularly, you are able to doctor things, which will help you in the detection of the earliest signs of illness before they escalate. Furthermore, following your child's child vaccinations protects your child from potentially life threatening illnesses like measles, polio and whooping cough, if neglected.
Common Childhood Illnesses to Know
All parents will have to deal with sniffles or a fever from time to time parents. Some of the most common baby illnesses will include colds, ear infections, chickenpox and hand-foot-mouth disease, etc. Knowing these common illnesses helps in the prevention of disease in children. This way, parents will be able to catch symptoms early. When visiting the pediatrician it is helpful to discuss with your pediatrician and ask about managing mild symptoms at home, and when to see a doctor. Make sure you are aware of your child's vaccinations, so that the child’s immune system learns how to fight off many of these infections.
The Importance of Regular Check-ups
Regular visits to child's doctor is much more than a “check-up,” regular visits to your child’s doctor are a basic component of child disease prevention. In addition to monitoring growth milestones, and nutrition, your child’s doctor can also monitor any potential health issues that may develop, prior to becoming a significant health issue. The best time to discuss your child vaccination schedule is during routine visits, and to be sure that your child does not miss an immunization. Visiting your doctor regularly means fewer surprises, and more peace of mind when it comes to your child's health and developmental milestones.
The Power of Vaccinations
Vaccines represent one of the most significant public health innovations in history. Adhering to the child vaccination schedule not only protects your child but is also an important part of protecting the community by minimizing outbreaks. This is a key aspect of overall childhood disease prevention. During a well child visit, your pediatrician will guide you through the specific vaccines that are due and explain the benefits of each of the vaccines. Vaccines help develop a strong immunity to serious illness and represent, in part, a healthier and brighter future for us all.
Healthy Habits for a Healthy Immunity
Preventative health is not only about medicines. Healthy habits around hand washing, eating well, sleeping well, and active living are immediate tools for child disease prevention! Staying on schedule with child well visits gives you the opportunity to discuss ways to encourage a healthy routine and help you use your child’s preventive health visit to prepare for next childhood disease prevention milestones. Most importantly, do not underestimate the importance of finishing the child vaccination schedule - this is your child's lifelong protection from preventable illnesses.
