Get Healthy: Regular baby checkups are important in ensuring health

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.

Q: What happens at well-baby checkups at the Health Department?

A: The clinic at Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) performs well-child exams for patients between 2 months and 18 years. An appointment is needed (phone number is listed below), and the comprehensive appointment lasts about an hour. Note that the CCHHS clinic does not see children for illness reasons.

At the appointment, the infant or child receives a thorough physical exam, including vision and hearing tests, neurological and developmental screening, urinalysis, and a blood check for anemia, if appropriate. If the time is right, regular childhood immunizations are administered and fluoride varnishings are provided. If there is an indication the child has a special need, referrals are made so that proper treatment can be rendered. Education and counseling on topics such as nutrition, growth and development also are offered.

In addition to the well child exam, support is provided to parents so that the child can have his or her own primary care physician. This often involves assistance with Medicaid applications and other paperwork.

"The clinic is not a medical home," said Doug Banghart, Senior Public Health Nurse at CCHHS, "it is a safety net. Our patients need to have their own doctor, and we facilitate that."

Well-child checkups are scheduled at the CCHHS clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The phone number is 887-2195.

SUMMER SUN SAFETY FOR CHILDREN

School is out and CCHHS reminds parents that while summer offers leisure and fun in the sun, there are also health considerations for children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that to prevent sun burn, parents of infants should avoid sun exposure on the infants, and should dress them in lightweight long pants, long sleeves and brimmed hats. When adequate shade and clothing are not available, apply sunscreen with at least SPF 15 to small areas such as face and the back of hands.

Older children also are asked to cover up as the best defense against sunburn. Hats with three-inch brims or a bill facing forward, sunglasses, and tightly woven cotton clothing work well.

Other recommendations are:

• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15. Apply liberally.

• Reapply sunscreen after 2 hours, swimming or sweating.

Use extra caution around water and sand as they reflect burning sun rays.

It's all about Public Health.

WHOOPING COUGH OUTBREAK IN CALIFORNIA

In neighboring California, confirmed cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, is triple that of last year. The five infants who died from it caught it from adults. Infants are not adequately protected by their whooping cough immunizations until they are 6 months old. For this reason, local health officials encourage Tdap boosters for any adult that is in close contact with an infant, as well as regular immunizations for infants and children.

Carson City Health and Human Services

Clinic Hours: Monday-Wednesday and Friday

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment

Call: 775-887-2195

Thursday is

Immunization Day

8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

No appointment needed

CALL: 775-887-2195

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• Pam Graber is the public information officer for Carson City Health and Human Services. She can be reached at pgraber@

cl.carson-city.nv.us.