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 PostJanuary - March 2004
Contents Use Antiobiotics Appropriately
Use Antiobiotics AppropriatelyAt this time of year, illness is everywhere. Sickness can be more contagious during the winter months because more time is spent indoors. Many diseases, such as mumps, measles, respiratory flu, and pertussis can be prevented by vaccination. Often people visit their physician after becoming ill seeking a prescription for antibiotics. Although their careful use can treat certain illnesses, antibiotics do not cure everything, and unnecessary antibiotics can even be harmful. Viruses versus bacteria Basically, there are two main types of germs that cause most infections. These are viruses and bacteria-- Viruses cause: All colds and flu Most coughs Most sore throats Antibiotics DO NOT kill viruses Bacteria cause: Most ear infections Some sinus infections Urinary tract infections Antibiotics can kill specific bacteria Drug-resistant bacteria Each time you take an antibiotic, bacteria are killed. Sometimes bacteria become resistant. Resistant bacteria do not respond to the antibiotics and continue to cause infection. Each time you take an antibiotic unnecessarily or improperly, you increase your chance of developing drug-resistant bacteria so it is really important to take antibiotics only when necessary. Because of these resistant bacteria, some diseases that used to be easy to treat are now becoming nearly impossible to treat. What do you need to know about antibiotics? Remember that antibiotics don't work against colds and flu, and that unnecessary antibiotics can be harmful. Talk to your health care provider about antibiotics and find out about the differences between viruses and bacteria--and when antibiotics should and shouldn't be used. If you do get an antibiotic, be sure to take it exactly as prescribed, which may help decrease the development of resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is particularly dangerous for children, but it can occur in adults as well. One final note is that taking antibiotics appropriately and getting immunized will help prevent having to take more dangerous and more costly medications. If we use antibiotics appropriately we can avoid developing drug resistance. We just need to take our medicine exactly as it is prescribed and not expect to take antibiotics every time we're sick. For more information about preventing illness, visit the CDC web page "An Ounce of Prevention" at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/.
Information from the Centers for Disease Control
ObesityAs the new year begins, many people make New Year's resolutions--the most popular is to lose weight. Obesity is on the rise throughout our country for adults and children. In Missouri our obesity rate continues to grow, according to the latest figures reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although West Virginia leads the states with the highest obesity prevalence rate at 27.5 percent, Missouri is not far behind with 23.2 percent of its adult citizens considered obese in the year 2002. That percentage represents almost twice the 12 percent obesity rate reported in Missouri only a little more than a decade ago. Although many people are concerned about how weight gain may affect their appearance, it is clear that those extra pounds can have very serious health consequences. Obesity has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes; asthma; arthritis; hypertension; ovarian cysts; gall bladder disease; heart disease; certain types of cancer; type 2 diabetes; stroke; and psychological disorders such as depression and bulimia. Economically, it has been estimated by CDC that the U.S. spends approximately $117 billion annually in extra health costs related to obesity. According to RAND researchers, who examined the comparative effects of obesity, smoking, heavy drinking and poverty on chronic health conditions and health expenditures, not only was obesity linked to chronic health conditions and higher health costs but that it affects more people than smoking, heavy drinking or poverty. The Surgeon General recommends the following steps to combat obesity: Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, losing just 10% of your body weight can improve your health. Lose weight gradually--about 1/2 to 2 pounds per week. Consult your physician before beginning a weight loss program. Be active. Keep physically active to balance the calories you consume. Adults should aim for 30 minutes of physical activity each day; 60 minutes for children. Limit TV time to less than 2 hours per day. Eat well. Select sensible portion sizes and follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which you can find at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.
Obesity in ChildrenObesity is also an increasing problem for children in America. Thirteen percent of children aged 6 to 11 years and 14 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years were overweight in 1999. This prevalence has nearly tripled for adolescents in the past two decades. Parents have a responsibility to address childhood obesity which is linked to type 2 diabetes. Recent studies in obesity have shown:
How do you as the parent judge your child's weight and what can you do about it? Ask your health care provider if your child is overweight. Your health care provider will look at your child's weight history, body build and growth to decide and will help you plan what to do. Sometimes a child's weight grows faster than his height. Never start a strict weight loss diet. Limiting calories and nutrients in a child can interfere with normal growth. It’s important to start early; after an obese child reaches the age of six, the chance that obesity will persist is more than 50 percent. To help a child who is overweight, serve meals and snacks on a regular schedule and limit TV and computer time, encourage active play instead. For more information about how you can help your overweight child, visit www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/pubs/helpchld.htm.
Food & BacteriaBacteria are everywhere. When they have nutrients (food), moisture, time and favorable temperatures, they can grow to sufficient numbers to cause illness. By knowing the temperature and length of time a food has been handled, we can then answer the question, "Is it safe?" Bacteria grow best in the temperatures between 41 degrees and 140 degrees. This range of temperatures is often called the DANGER ZONE. A rule of thumb is never leave food in this zone longer than 2 hours. Cooking temperatures for food are: poultry above 165 degrees, ground beef and other pulverized meats above 155 degrees and pork, beef, fish and other potentially hazardous foods above 145 degrees. Foods should be reheated thoroughly to an internal temperature 165 degrees. Refrigerators should be 41 degrees or below and the freezer should be 0 degrees or below. Because bacteria are everywhere, they can be reintroduced to food and reproduce. For this reason leftovers should be put in shallow containers (less than 3 inches deep) and refrigerated within 2 hours.
(All temperatures Fahrenheit.)
Dental SealantsThe latest step in preventive dentistry is to seal out decay in the pits and grooves of the back teeth where decay or cavities are most likely to occur. By coating these areas with a plastic sealing material, your dentist can actually "seal out" dental decay on those chewing surfaces. Children between the ages of six and thirteen benefit the most from sealants. Sealants are applied to permanent molars as soon as they completely erupt from the gums. The earliest ones come in between five and seven years of age. Your dentist will decide which teeth should be sealed and how soon. Sealants are safe to apply and use. They are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and American Dental Association. Teeth are thoroughly cleaned before the liquid plastic sealant is applied. There is no tooth surface removed and no medication is necessary when sealants are applied. Fees vary among dentists, but the cost is usually less than the cost of repairing a cavity. Annual dental exams reduce the risk of cavities which can be painful and expensive to repair.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)Pertussis, or whooping cough, occurs worldwide, is a human disease and is not always a childhood illness. About 50% of all cases occur in adolescents and adults and are often misdiagnosed as bronchitis, the common cold or smokers cough. Children are vaccinated for pertussis with the DTAP vaccine. This is a combination vaccine with the P meaning pertussis. Children receive the vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and 12-18 months age with a booster at 4-6 years. Immunity against pertussis can begin to wane around 9-10 years of age. Currently, vaccinating children 7 years and older, adolescents, or adults is not recommended either routinely or for outbreak control. Initial symptoms resemble those of a minor upper respiratory illness. For 1-2 weeks an intermittent, non-productive cough is common. At a later stage, there may be bouts of severe coughing followed by a high-pitched whoop. Vomiting and exhaustion commonly follow the episode. Infants under six months, adolescents, and adults may not have the typical whoop, and their symptoms may be indistinguishable from other upper respiratory infections. Even though symptoms may be milder, infected people may transmit the disease to other susceptible individuals. Complete, up-to-date pertussis immunization is not a guarantee against the disease; however, receiving the pertussis vaccinations as a child offers some protection from the disease in older individuals. Vaccination drastically minimizes the severity of the disease and the development of complications.
What is Public HealthPublic health and its benefits to Missourians are not well understood by many. Some people associate public health with immunizations for children and inspection of restaurants. Others see public health as the dedicated "county nurse" visiting older people in their homes. But few realize the broad range of activities and responsibilities for which public health is accountable. Actually, public health is a sophisticated science for identifying and dealing with real or potential health threats to the community. Public health's primary purposes are to improve the health of communities, to prevent disease from occurring, and to save lives. An effective public health system: assesses and promotes health and safety; prevents or minimizes the occurrence of diseases and injuries; plans, prepares, and responds to natural and manmade disasters; identifies barriers, and facilitates access to primary and preventive health care; and enforces public health laws and regulations. Public health is often confused with health care. A health care provider diagnoses and treats each of his/her individual patients. Public health professionals diagnose whole communities and develop a plan of action to improve the health status of the entire population. Although the principal role of public health has remained the same, its focus has changed over the years. Early in the 20th century public health efforts were primarily directed to disease prevention. In the latter part of the 20th century many public health agencies took on the responsibility of providing care to indigent populations. Because expanded insurance coverage has made personal health services more accessible to most people, public health is now able to focus more closely on its principal role of protecting the public. Entering into the 21st century, public health has many challenges such as new diseases, infections and bioterrorism threats. Building capacity and assuring readiness to confront these challenges is essential.
from Strengthening Public Health, MDHSS
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Grundy County Health Department is an Equal Opportunity
Provider.
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