Our pediatrics and teen health services provide an array of services for patients between the ages of newborn and 18. Such services include immunizations, wellness exams, and sports physicals.
What Does a Sports Physical Involve?
A sports physical, which is also called a pre-participation physical examination, is a physical exam done to assess a child’s fitness and ability to safely play a given sport. It is typically done several weeks before the beginning of the season to allow the patient to undergo the needed treatment or therapy to improve their fitness, if needed, and play with few or no restrictions.
Conditions that might result in restrictions being placed on a child include the following:
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Seizure disorder
• Eating disorder
• Heart problems
• Family history of serious illness, especially if it caused sudden death before 50
We will start by taking a detailed medical history, including a family history of any diseases. We will then perform an extensive physical, during which we will measure the patient’s weight, height, blood pressure, and pulse. We will check the patient’s hearing, vision, coordination, and reflexes and check flexibility, joint mobility, and heart and lung function.
The doctor will make their recommendations based on the results of the exam, the sport being played, and the use of safety equipment. They will also consider various ways to make playing safer.
Total bans are uncommon. Most children with health issues will be able to play; they will just have to follow certain precautions. For example, a child with asthma will need to use an inhaler.
What are some Recommended Immunizations?
Recommended immunizations include the following:
• Rotavirus vaccine
• Polio vaccine
• Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine
• Influenza vaccine
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
• Chickenpox vaccine
Many of the vaccines are administered at least once during the child’s first two years and then again when the child reaches school age. Not all of the immunizations involve shots.
On Allergies in Children
According to the Mayo Clinic, 90 percent of food allergies in children are caused by just eight items:
• Milk
• Tree nuts, like cashews or almonds
• Fish
• Seafood
• Wheat
• Soy
• Peanuts
• Eggs
When it comes to teen health, food allergies can be tricky, for the allergen can lurk in unexpected places. Soy, for example, can sometimes be found in frozen or processed food, while peanuts are sometimes found in cereals – and not just the ones that have a peanut butter flavor.
Symptoms of an allergy can vary depending on a child’s age. Small children are more likely to develop symptoms affecting the skin, such as a rash, while older children are more susceptible to respiratory symptoms like hay fever.
Visit our Child and Teen Medical Center
To learn more about our pediatrics and teen health services, simply schedule an appointment at Centro Medico Latino. We have various offices in Charlotte and Monroe. Contact us today to book an initial consultation for your child.
