Children, Adolescents and Adults
Checkups, Screenings and Immunizations
Your child's health includes his or her physical, mental, and social well-being. Most parents are aware of the basics of keeping their children healthy, like providing nutritious foods, making sure they get enough sleep and exercise, and insuring their safety. It's also important for children and adolescents to have regular checkups with their primary doctor. These visits are a great way to check in with your child's growth and development. They are also a great time to prevent or detect any health concerns. Learn about the recommended immunizations for your child and the programs available in the community.
Childhood is a time of rapid growth and development. Children have more well-child visits with their doctor when they are younger, as development is faster during this time. It’s equally important for adolescents to see their provider each year. Well-child visits give the teen and their provider a chance to discuss nutrition, exercise, and safety related issues facing adolescents today. If your child is transitioning from pediatric to adult care, talk to your pediatrician. He or she is a great source of information and can recommend the appropriate doctor or specialist for your child. Click here to use the Find a Doctor tool to locate in-network providers near you.
Immunizations (shots) protect your child from many serious diseases. They should be given at the recommended age — even if your child has a cold or minor illness at the time. Ask your doctor when your child should receive these important shots. Also, inquire about additional immunizations for your child or teen. Click on the links below to access recommended immunization schedules for children, adolescents, and young adults.
Lead Safety
A major cause of lead poisoning in children is from lead based paint, found in virtually all houses built before 1978 when lead was banned. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says children living in 4 million U.S. households are being exposed to high levels of lead.
Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over a period of months or years. Research indicates about 500,000 U.S. children between the ages of 1 and 5 have blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter, the reference level at which the CDC recommends public health actions be initiated. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for children under the age of six. Lead poisoning can cause permanent neurological damage including loss of I.Q., developmental delays, learning disabilities, memory loss, hearing loss, attention deficits, hyperactivity, and behavioral disorders. In extreme cases, lead exposure can result in organ failure and death.
Recent studies also show that even small amounts of lead can cause health problems in adults. Exposure for adults might come from exposure at work, home renovations, and even from hobbies such making jewelry or stained glass work or glassblowing with leaded glass. Lead can cause a variety of issues in adults to include high blood pressure, fatigue, headaches, memory loss, join/muscle pain and kidney damage, to name a few. Exposure to lead during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage and can affect the unborn baby.
The good news is lead poisoning is preventable. To see if you or your children are at risk, complete a Lead Risk Assessment. If you answer yes to any of the questions, take the form to your or your child’s physician to see if lead testing is needed. In addition, because of the increased risk to children, New York State requires health care providers to test all children for lead with a blood lead test at age 1 year and again at age 2 years.
You can further protect your family from lead poisoning by following the below recommendations. For more information on resources available, visit the NYS DOH lead safety website.
- Limit your exposure at work by washing hands and face before eating or drinking, wearing all appropriate safety gear and following all lead safe work practices.
- Check for lead in your home before completing any renovations and follow remediation recommendations.
- Limit exposure in your home by washing hands before preparing meals and washing your and your children’s hands before eating and drinking.
- Remove shoes before entering your home so you don’t track in outside lead dust or soil from your home’s exterior or from work being done on nearby homes or buildings.
- Lead dust tends to collect on window sills, so periodically wipe down sills with a wet cloth.
- Also, spend 5 minutes each day wiping down toys, pacifiers and household objects that might have lead dust on them
Additional Resources
Resources
Al-Anon Family Groups Meeting Information Line
800-356-9996
Child Welfare Information Gateway
American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association
First Candle SIDS Alliance Grief Support Line
800-221-7437
firstcandle.org
Girls health
1-800-994-9662
girlshealth.gov
Kidnetic
kidnetic.com
Make it Fit: Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany
Kids Camp Challenge
(518) 366-1901
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®
1-800-843-5678
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
800-695-0285
Recommended Immunizations
Infants and Children (Birth to 6 years old)
Preteen and Teen (7-18 years old)
Children & Adolescent Preventive Health
Additional Links:
Related Health Topics
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