PAA NEWS TO USE FALL/WINTER Please visit our website at

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1 PAA NEWS TO USE FALL/WINTER Please visit our website at THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR 50 TH ANNIVERSARY ART CONTEST! CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS! PAA MASCOT WINNER: DR. LOLLI DRAWN BY: ELLIE WEBB 9 YRS OLD

2 FAVORITE DOCTOR DRAWINGS ON THE NEXT PAGE! Time for Flu Vaccine! Please call the office to schedule your child s flu vaccine. While vaccine supply lasts, we are having Saturday Flu clinics at our Harrodsburg Road Office. These clinic dates are: September 12 & 26 October 10 & 24 November 7 & 21 December 5 & 19 These clinics will be open from 8am-12 noon and by appointment only. These appointments are for flu vaccine only. If your child needs to see a physician, please schedule an office visit. H1N1 Vaccine The CDC has announced that the H1N1 vaccine will be available in late October or November of We believe that the government will most likely distribute the vaccine through the local health departments and possibly schools. We will keep you updated as information comes

3 to us. These updates will be available through a phone recording at our office and on our website. Seasonal Flu Vaccine The Flu shot is an inactivated vaccine given as a shot into the muscle. The flu vaccine can prevent influenza but is not 100% protective against the flu. The flu shot will not make your child ill. Protection from influenza develops about 2 weeks after getting the shot and may last up to a year. Flu Mist is a live, weakened vaccine that is sprayed into the nostrils. Flu Mist will be available for healthy children 2 years of age and older. You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine. Influenza is a potentially serious disease caused by a virus that spreads from infected persons to the nose and throat of others. Influenza can cause fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills and muscle aches. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends influenza immunization for ALL children healthy and with high risk conditions ages 6 months thru 18 years old. Most kids will only need one shot unless they are under the age of 9 and getting the vaccine for the first time. This group of kids will need 2 doses 30 days apart, again, only if receiving first flu shot under the age of 9. Inactivated Influenza Vaccine should be given to: All children 6month- 18 years old Household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants 0-23 months of age People 50 years of age or older Residents of long-term care facilities People who have long-term health problems with heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, metabolic disease, anemia People with a weakened immune system Women who will be pregnant during influenza season Physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone in close contact with people at risk of influenza Anyone else who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza Live Intranasal Influenza Vaccine can be given to: Healthy children and adults from 2 through 49 years of age Household contacts of most people at high risk for influenza complications When should you get a flu shot? The best time to get flu vaccine is in October or November. The flu season can peak anywhere from December through March, but most often peaks in February. Most people need only one flu vaccination each year to prevent influenza. But children under 9 years of age getting influenza vaccine for the first time should get 2 doses of

4 vaccine. For the live influenza vaccine, these doses should be 6-10 weeks apart. With the inactivated vaccine, these doses are given one month apart. Content derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Fast Flu Facts Every child seems to get the flu (influenza) at some time or another, right? But what is the flu? The flu is an illness caused by a virus. Flu viruses usually strike between December and early April. Since each of the types of flu virus has different strains, every year the flu is slightly different and can infect people several times during their lifetime. The flu can last a week or even longer. Your child will usually feel the worst during the first 2 or 3 days and may have any of the following symptoms: A sudden fever (usually above 101º) Chills and shakes with the fever Extreme tiredness Headache and body aches Dry, hacking cough Sore throat Stuffy nose In some cases vomiting can occur There are usually no serious complications from the flu. However, sometimes an ear infection, a sinus infection, or pneumonia might develop. Talk to your pediatrician if your child says that his ear hurts, he

5 feels all congested in his face and head, if his cough persists, or if a fever lasts beyond 3 to 4 days. Both the flu and colds are caused by viruses and share many symptoms. But there are differences. A child with a common cold usually has a lower fever, a runny nose, and only a small amount of coughing. Children with the flu usually feel much sicker, achy, and miserable. Also, the flu tends to strike more quickly than a cold. Stomach upsets and vomiting are more common with the flu than with a cold. Children who have colds usually have enough energy to play and keep up with their usual day-to-day routines. The flu, on the other hand, keeps most children in bed for several days. Wash your hands! Wash your hands! Wash your hands! Facts about H1N1 (Swine Flu) ~ Novel H1N1 is a new influenza virus that was first detected in the US in April This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide much like regular seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread through coughing and sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their nose or mouth. Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface. ~ Illness with the new H1N1 virus have ranged from mild to severe and most people have recovered without medical treatment. About 70% of people that have been hospitalized with H1N1 have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing them at high risk of serious flu-related complications.

6 ~ People infected with seasonal and H1N1 influenza may be able to infect others 1 day before getting sick to 5-7 days after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems. ~ Novel H1N1 influenza is NOT spread by eating food such as pork or by drinking tap water. It also cannot be spread through water in swimming pools or other recreational venues. ~ There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid contact with sick people. If you are sick with a flu-like illness, the CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medicines. Follow Public Health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds, and other instructions. Be prepared in case you or your child gets sick to stay home for up to a week- have tissues and other related items that might be of use and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick. People who are well but have family members at home with H1N1 flu can go to work and school as usual.

7 Waiting Room Many people often ask why we do not have toys in our waiting room. Germs can be spread this way and our physicians feel that it is important to minimize unnecessary exposure to illness. During the busy winter season it is a good idea to bring some items with you that can keep your child occupied while you wait to see the physician. We do our best to remain on time, but please be patient as some delays are beyond our control. Our waiting room is divided, with a well side and a sick side. Please sit with your child in the appropriate area so that we can decrease exposure to illness. This does not apply after 5pm. Phone Calls Registered Nurses are available during the day to handle calls about your sick child or routine health questions. All routine medical questions, feeding questions and non-sick issues should be directed to our nurses before 5pm. When you call our office at , ask to leave a message for a nurse and we will return your call as quickly as possible. Due to the high volume of phone calls this time of year, it may take our nurses 2-3 hours to return your call. We will answer all calls by the end of the day. If your call is urgent, please tell the receptionist. Urgent calls after 5pm are not handled by our nurses, but by nurses at the Central Baptist Triage Center who can be reached

8 through the Exchange Service at Thank you for your patience during this busy sick season. For routine problems and prescription refills, please call during regular office hours which are 7:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., Mon.-Fri. and 7:30 a.m.- Noon on Saturdays. If you think your child may need to be seen in the office, please call as early as possible during the work day so that we may schedule an appointment for you. Please refer to our website for answers to routine questions and for dosing information for over the counter medications. Antibiotics Our physicians do not call in antibiotics without seeing the child first. This is important because antibiotics are not effective on viruses and overuse of antibiotics can cause bacteria to become more resistant. This could also lead to unnecessary side effects to your child. If you feel that your child has an illness that may require an antibiotic, please call our office to schedule an appointment to see one of our physicians. If you are out of town, we recommend taking your child to a local emergency room or urgent treatment center.