One of the most important things you can do is get yourself set up with a reliable and trusted pediatrician before your baby is born, reports a new study published in the journal “Pediatrics.” According to researchers, the quality of your child’s care may decrease if you don’t stick to the same physician.
The study found that children who had the same doctor during the first six months of life were more likely to receive important screenings by the age of two. Some of these important screenings include those for tuberculosis, anemia and lead poisoning, the latter of which can cause the child to have low intelligence later in life. The study consisted of 1,564 Philadelphia-born babies who were on Medicare.
The lead investigator of the study says certain children, like those from low-income, urban families, are most at-risk of not undergoing such important tests because of the lack of a steady physician. It is imperative that you ensure that your child receives these screenings, regardless of how many physicians she sees. Tuberculosis can have serious complications for children and iron-deficiency can harm their hearing and sight or adversely affect their equilibrium and movement.
Aricka Flowers
(photo credit: angelamaphone)
June 16th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Diagnosing a food allergy isn’t nearly as laborious as I once thought. This article tells you why! http://www.diagnosingallergies.com/articles/diagnosing-food%20allergies/index.php