CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - LiveWell

F amily Focus Fighting Sickness Discover information relevant to your entire family's health with this handy section in every issue of LiveWell. For Your Spouse For Your Children You have probably seen the rapid improvement in some sick children that results from antibiotic use. Antibiotics are the best solution for bacterial infections, but they are not appropriate for all conditions. Overuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance, an alarming trend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls "one of the world's most pressing public health threats." Children should only take antibiotics prescribed for their current condition, and they should complete the entire course of pills. Do not stop dosing them early. If children take antibiotics improperly or for conditions for which the medications aren't intended, such as colds, influenza or bronchitis, their bodies may start producing bacteria that do not respond to medicine. Often the only solution to antibiotic resistance is to give stronger doses of antibiotics for long periods of time, which can cause more resistance. Your child's primary care provider can identify when to give your child an antibiotic and how to take it properly. Influenza season begins in October and can last through May. Even if unvaccinated individuals don't experience influenza symptoms, they can carry the virus, potentially spreading it to others. Put prevention first to help keep your family and friends well even if there is an outbreak. Step 1 – vaccinate. Active strains of influenza vary from year to year, so every member of your family needs to be vaccinated annually. The 2013–2014 trivalent influenza vaccine is designed to protect you from H1N1, H3N2 and a B strain influenza virus. The quadrivalent influenza vaccine protects against these and a second B strain influenza. Getting vaccinated cannot cause you to get influenza. Remember being vaccinated late in the season still provides protection. It takes about two weeks for the influenza vaccine to build up immunity in the body. Getting vaccinated does not mean you won't get influenza, but it does lower your chances of contracting it. Step 2 – keep a clean scene. The germs that cause influenza spread in the air and on surfaces. Teach your family proper hand-washing techniques and stock up on antibacterial cleaning supplies to frequently disinfect shared items such as doorknobs and TV remotes. Step 3 – isolate. If you do get influenza, stay home to recover for about 24 hours after the fever subsides. For Your Parents The CDC recommends all persons older than 65 receive just one dose of the pneumococcal vaccine, but as of 2009 just 60% of that age group typically got the shot. The vaccine helps prevent pneumonia, a common yet largely preventable condition that results in more than 5,000 deaths each year. Certain health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and heart disease, and suppressed immune systems, put those age 65 and older at higher risk of contracting pneumonia. Just like influenza, cases of pneumonia peak in the winter, so now is a good time to talk with a physician about receiving the one-time pneumococcal vaccine. What health topics matter most to your family? Let us know by visiting www.christuslivewell.org. Complete the online form and we'll consider your suggestions for future "Family Focus" installments in LiveWell. LiveWell | November/December 2013 3

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