Fall 2006 - Home

Can't Sleep?
What's Keeping Kids Up Living Healthy Isn't Always Easy Chronic Aches May Be More Than Growing Pains The "Art" of Helping Children Cope
Ask Dr. Ghosh About Vaccines & Well Care About Dr. Kabita Ghosh
Can You See My Pain? What Kids Say About Self Mutilation
Healthy Snack Recipes

Ask a Monte Doc Featuring Kabita Ghosh-Hazra, MD

Q: WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD SEE A PHYSICIAN?

A: The early years are critical for kids. Regular checkups and preventive screenings are important at any age. But young children need to be seen frequently, even when they're healthy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your baby see a pediatrician 2 to 3 days after your baby comes home. Following the initial visit, you should schedule routine checkups with your family pediatrician at 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years, 8 years, 10 years and each subsequent year until age 21.

Q: HOW DO ROUTINE VISITS HELP KEEP MY CHILD HEALTHY?

A: Well child care visits can have a major impact on your child's health. Your family pediatrician can track their physical and developmental growth during well child visits. Following state and national guidelines, they can administer immunizations that help children ward off serious and potentially deadly infectious diseases that were once common. I always take this opportunity to talk with parents about what they can do to help children thrive and recommend interventions when kids aren't meeting normal milestones.

Q: WHY DOES MY CHILD NEED IMMUNIZATIONS?

A: Despite what some parents think, immunizations or vaccines cannot harm your baby — they are medicines that may actually save your baby's life. Vaccines stimulate your child's immune system, so it can fight a host of infectious diseases, including: polio, diphtheria, hepatitis, whooping cough, chicken pox, bacterial meningitis, measles, mumps, rubella, the flu, pneumococcal pneumonia and tetanus. These diseases can cause serious illness, disability and even death.

Q: WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD GET IMMUNIZATIONS?

A: Newborns usually receive their first vaccination, for Hepatitis B, before they leave the hospital. Your baby's doctor will follow the most current immunization schedule and start administering additional immunizations when your child is two months old. Your child will receive most of the recommended vaccines by the time he or she is six years of age.

Q: DO VACCINES HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

A: Most children say shots hurt. But the truth is that most children have no major side effects from vaccines. Pain, a fever, and redness or swelling at the injection site are the most common side effects. If your child develops these temporary symptoms, place a cool, wet washcloth over the area. You may also give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen (not aspirin) to reduce his or her pain and fever. A very small number of children have allergic reactions to immunizations. If your child has a bad response to vaccines, his or her doctor will discuss the pros and cons of giving your child future immunizations. Overall, vaccines are safe and beneficial to children and despite public debate, vaccines have not been proven to cause illnesses such as autism.

Q: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD MISSES A VACCINE?

A: While it's best to follow the recommended immunization schedule, it's never too late to have your child vaccinated. Make an appointment for your child as soon as possible and bring a record of any immunizations your child has already received. Your child's doctor will administer immunizations at appropriate intervals to help your child catch up.