HOUSTON – Now is the time to get your child's annual physical.
Dr. Sherri Sandifer with Texas Children's Pediatric Associates Cypresswood said in this week's What's Going Around report a lot of kids are coming in for sports and camp physicals, which is great, but too many families wait until the end of the summer when it is harder to get an appointment.
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Dr. Sandifer said it is best to get those initial check-ups out of the way early in case a follow-up is needed. Children will not risk missing the start of the athletic season.
Dr. Carolyn Carlson with Kelsey Seybold's Humble clinic is also seeing kids for physicals as well as sinusitis, acne, and more cases of molluscum contagiosum, which is a viral skin rash caused by the pox virus.
Finally, if you are traveling with the kids this summer, do not be tempted to sedate them with Benadryl.
Dr. Richard Lyn-Cook with the Harris County Hospital District says the antihistamine is not recommended as a sedative.
He says while Benadryl is relatively safe, it can sometimes cause hyperactivity, dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision and thickened secretions in the lungs, which can be serious for asthmatics.
Dr. Lyn-Cook recommends bringing new toys, snacks, coloring books and crayons.
Also use a pacifier, bottle or sippy cup to avoid ear pain on plane rides.