Top 3 Summer Time Doctor Visits to Avoid with Your Child

SUFFERN, N.Y., July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- While the summer is typically a season of carefree fun for most children, there are still many health risks that loom this time of year. While some seasonal woes like allergies are unavoidable, there are many health risks we can help our children avoid simply by taking precautionary measures and being aware of the risks. Before heading out on vacation, to the pool, to camp, or wherever your summer takes you and your children, be sure to know the top three most common summer time health risks so that you can avoid trips to the doctor.

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Heat-related Illnesses - Heat stroke and heat exhaustion (a milder form of heat stroke) can strike even during short periods of exposure to extreme temperatures. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) infants and children up to four year of age are at the greatest risk for heat-related illnesses. For this reason, make sure to keep your children out of extreme heat and provide cool fluids and shady areas for them to rest when playing outdoors. Learn to recognize heat-related illnesses in your children by looking for symptoms which include nausea, an extremely high body temperature, dry skin (no sweating), complaints of headaches and dizziness. Contact your health care provider immediately should you suspect heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

Poison Ivy/Poison Oak/Poison Sumac - If your children spend time outdoors there is always a risk of coming in contact with one of these dangerous plants. An allergic reaction to the oil in these plants causes a painful rash which is known for large weeping blisters and severe itching. According to HealthChildren.org, the best way to prevent your children from coming into contact with these plants is to make them aware of what the plants looks like so they can avoid them:

• Poison Ivy - a three leafed weed with green leaves and a red stem at the center.
• Poison Oak - a shrub or vine that produces clusters of what look like oak leaves usually with three leaflets.
• Poison Sumac - grows as a shrub and has seven to thirteen leaves along each stem.

Insect Bites and Stings - With the warm summer air comes pesky insects some of which can be very harmful to children including wasps, hornets, mosquitos, ticks and poisonous spiders. While mosquitos may seem rather harmless, they are now known to carry diseases like West Nile Virus which makes it more important than ever to prevent bites. Make sure to purchase a sunscreen that also has insect repellent and teach your children about the types of insects to avoid. In very young children and babies it is best to contact your pediatrician about the types of insect repellents safe for them as some contain chemicals not safe for very young children.

For more information on any of the topics above you should contact your child's pediatrician.

About VISTA Health Solutions: VISTA health solutions is a health insurance marketplace aimed at providing affordable and dependable health insurance solutions to consumers across the United States. For most information or free comparative quotes visit www.NYHealthInsurer.com.

SOURCE VISTA Health Solutions

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