Grundy County Health Department
1716 Lincoln / Trenton, MO 64683
PH: 660.359.4196 FAX: 660.359.5470
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Grundy County Health Department 1716 Lincoln / Trenton, MO 64683 PH: 660.359.4196 FAX: 660.359.5470
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Public Health PostOctober - December 2003
Contents Headlice Prevention & Treatment
Flu Shots Are For EveryoneInfluenza, or flu, is caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, chills, cough, headache, and muscle aches. Most people are ill for only a few days but some cases can be much more severe and require hospitalization. Each year over 36,000 people in the U.S. die because of the flu--most are 65 or older. Influenza doesn't just affect the elderly, flu and its complications are the 6th leading cause of death among children 4 years old and younger. More people die from the flu than from any other vaccine-preventable disease. Influenza puts about 114,000 people in the hospital each year in the U.S. Although most people believe that only people over 65 are usually hospitalized, children under two are just as likely require hospitalization from the flu. Certain populations are considered to be at greater risk for developing complications from the flu. Annual vaccinations are recommended for people that are:
In addition to these groups, flu shots are encouraged for:
Healthy people may avoid the flu shot because they do not fall into any of the above special categories but the flu is a more serious illness than the common cold and can send even the healthiest person to bed for several days. Many employers choose to provide the flu vaccine to their employees because there is so much work time lost each year during flu season. The risk of having a serious reaction to the flu vaccine is extremely small, but people that receive a flu shot may experience a mild reaction, such as redness or soreness where the shot is given, fever, and aches. Because the vaccine is made from a inactivated (killed) virus, you CANNOT get the flu from the flu vaccine. Flu season lasts from October through May--most people are vaccinated in October or November, but it's not too late to get the shot in December or later. The Grundy County Health Department offers flu vaccine throughout the county during October and November until supplies run out. For more information about influenza, visit www.cdc.gov/nip/flu.
Information from the Centers for Disease Control
High Blood PressureBlood Pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers. You may have high blood pressure if your systolic pressure (the first number) is over 140 OR your diastolic pressure (the second number) is over 90. Blood pressure varies so a single high reading does not indicate chronic high blood pressure (or hypertension). When you have high blood pressure it can have adverse affects on the whole body. The Brain--High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. Very high pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which then bleeds into the brain and may cause a stroke. The Eyes--High blood pressure can eventually cause blood vessels in the eyes to burst or bleed. Vision may become blurred or otherwise impaired and can result in blindness. The Arteries--As people get older, arteries throughout the body "harden," especially those in the heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure is associated with these "stiffer" arteries. This, in turn, causes the heart and kidneys to work harder. The Kidneys--The kidneys act as filters to rid the body of waste. Over time, high blood pressure can narrow and thicken the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys filter less fluid, and waste builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail altogether. When this happens, medical treatment (dialysis) or a kidney transplant may be needed. The Heart--High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack. The arteries bring oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, chest pain, also known as "angina," can occur. If the flow of blood is blocked, a heart attack results. High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF is a serious condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs. High blood pressure can be controlled by diet, exercise, and prescription drugs. Stop by the Grundy County Health Department for a free blood pressure screening.
Information gathered from Health Program Dieticians
Control High Blood Pressure
For more information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/.
Signs of StrokeLearn to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke, the more quickly you can act the greater your chance of preventing permanent disability:
For more information, visit www.dhss.state.mo.us/cardiovascular/ or www.strokeassociation.org.
Tips for Storing Canned FoodsYou can keep canned foods forever, right? Follow these tips to maximize the shelf life of your canned foods:
Remember, when in doubt throw it out. Source: Food Talk, Summer 2003
Head Lice Prevention & TreatmentWhat would you do if you discover that your child has lice? First of all, don't panic or get embarrassed. A lice infestation is not a sign of lack of cleanliness. It is an easily treatable condition. Lice are tiny insects that survive on human blood. Head lice are about as big as a sesame seed and may live on the human scalp. Lice hatch from eggs called nits. Nits are extremely tiny, yellowish or grayish white and tear-dropped shaped. They attach to the hair shaft and will not wash out or blow away. A little knowledge can go a long way:
Live lice must be treated by using a special shampoo designed for lice treatment. Shampoos are not 100% effective on nits, they must be removed by simply pulling the nit off of the hair strand and placing the nit in the trash. The best treatment yet is prevention--teach your children not to share combs, hats, ponytail holders, etc. See www.headlice.org for more information.
Developmental ScreeningParents of young children often have many questions about how their child is developing. Trying to decide what is age-appropriate can be confusing. The DENVER II is a screening tool designed to be used with children under six. It evaluates a child's performance on a variety of age-appropriate tasks and compares the child's performance to that of other children the same age. The DENVER II is not an IQ test. It is not designed to diagnose learning disabilities, language disorders, or emotional disturbance. It is a screening tool that may be valuable in detecting a concern and prompt further developmental testing. The screening consists of four parts which assess such things as:
At the Grundy County Health Department, we offer a variety of screenings for children, including the DENVER II.
Local Bioterrorism ExerciseJuly 23, 2003, The Grundy County Health Department held its first disaster exercise focusing on bioterrorism. The health department has been working on a plan to address bioterrorism for several months, and this exercise was designed to assist in the planning process. The tabletop event was held at the North Central Missouri College Ketcham Center. Approximately 85 individuals from public health, law enforcement, fire, emergency management services, local government, medical, business, and civic organizations attended. Since September 11, 2001 local public health agencies have become important partners in county (as well as state and national) emergency planning and preparedness. The intent of this exercise was to further discussion and evaluate possible courses of action. A Power Point slide presentation was used to communicate scenarios that might occur if a disease of unknown origin spread rapidly throughout Grundy County and exhausted health and medical resources. Predetermined questions followed each scenario, and table groups submitted answers after each episode. As a result of this effort, the health department and local emergency planning partners have become aware of a number of things. Chief among the lessons learned is that Grundy County has a strong system in place for emergency response. A disaster caused by bioterrorism could exhaust resources and devastate a community quickly. By examining the questions raised during this exercise, Grundy County will be better able to detect an event and control, communicate, and coordinate a response.
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Grundy County Health Department is an Equal Opportunity
Provider.
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