Cold and flu season can hit your family hard. As the season wears on, immunity systems become more compromised and illnesses can sneak their way into your home. But what happens when an illness more serious than a cold or the flu presents itself? According to pediatrician Dr. Adam Aronson, still maturing immune systems cause children to be more susceptible to pneumonia. Additionally, he notes that “their behavior patterns, such as reduced occurrences of hand-washing and lessened ability to efficiently blow their noses, make children more prone to contract bacteria and viruses that can eventually lead to pneumonia.” By learning how to identify the different causes of pneumonia, how to treat it and how to prevent it, your family will breathe more easily this winter.
Oral health care of children from infancy through the teenage years requires different approaches in dealing with their specific needs. Our goal is to assist each child in guiding their dental growth and development and helping them to avoid future dental problems.
Throughout the year, children often have eye infections, allergies and dry eyes. Eye infections can affect one or both eyes and are most common in children. Some eye infections are highly contagious, and you must take care not to infect other people, or even your other eye if only one eye is infected. As a parent, these conditions can be alarming and it is important to know when to come see your optometrist for evaluation. Medically necessary visits with your optometrist for these conditions are covered by Alberta Health Care for all age groups including children.
Winter weather brings exciting new outdoor adventures for you and your child. From tobogganing to building snowmen, the winter months offer opportunities to stay active and spend time together outdoors. When planning outdoor activities, it’s important to remember that the weather in Alberta can be unpredictable and temperatures can drop rapidly. Because babies and children have smaller bodies, they are at greater risk of becoming too cold (leading to hypothermia). Ensuring that both you and your child are dressed appropriately for the chilly weather is an important component of safe outdoor fun.
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