North Little Rock Health Department

07/09/2018

Use EPA-registered repellents to reduce the chance of being bitten by a tick.

07/09/2018

Learn how to stay healthy and safe when in the water this summer!

06/04/2018

05/30/2018

Childhood obesity is a complex health issue. It occurs when a child is well above the normal or healthy weight for his or her age and height. The causes of excess weight gain in young people are similar to those in adults, including factors such as a person’s behavior and genetics.

Our nation’s overall increase in obesity also is influenced by a person’s community. Where people live can affect their ability to make healthy choices.

Behavior
A girl cooking a meal with her parents.
Behaviors that influence excess weight gain include eating high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and beverages, not getting enough physical activity, sedentary activities such as watching television or other screen devices, medication use, and sleep routines.

In contrast, consuming a healthy diet and being physically active can help children grow as well as maintain a healthy weight throughout childhood. Balancing energy or calories consumed from foods and beverages with the calories burned through activity plays a role in preventing excess weight gain. In addition, eating healthy and being physically active also has other health benefits and helps to prevent chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Use these resources to eat well and be active!

A healthy diet follows the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that emphasizes eating a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, a variety of lean protein foods, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products. It also limits eating foods and beverages with added sugars, solid fats, or sodium. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends children aged 6 years or older do at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Learn more about Healthy Weight—Finding a Balance

Community Environment
A family hiking on a trail


It can be difficult for children and parents to make healthy food choices and get enough physical activity when they are exposed to environments that do not support healthy habits. Places such as child care centers, schools, or communities can affect diet and activity through the foods and drinks they offer and the opportunities for physical activity they provide. Other community factors that affect diet and physical activity include the affordability of healthy food options, peer and social supports, marketing and promotion, and policies that determine how a community is designed.

Consequences of Obesity

More Immediate Health Risks
•Obesity during childhood can have a harmful effect on the body in a variety of ways. Children who have obesity are more likely to have(1-7) ◦High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
◦Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
◦Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea.
◦Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort.
◦Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux (i.e., heartburn).

A family eating a healthy meal outdoors
•Childhood obesity is also related to8-10:
◦Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.
◦Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life.
◦Social problems such as bullying and stigma.

Future Health Risks
•Children who have obesity are more likely to become adults with obesity.11 Adult obesity is associated with increased risk of a number of serious health conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.12
•If children have obesity, their obesity and disease risk factors in adulthood are likely to be more severe.13

05/29/2018

Because most pr***ens get their shots in the month of August before school begins, it can be difficult to get in to see your child’s doctor or nurse. Make an appointment to get your child vaccinated earlier this summer and beat the back-to-school rush!

Vaccines help protect your pr***en, as well as their friends and family members, from serious illness.

What vaccines does CDC recommend for my pr***en?

Boys and girls should get the following vaccines at age 11 or 12 years:
•HPV Vaccine
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps protect against HPV infections that cause cancer. All boys and girls should get two doses of HPV vaccine before they turn 13 years old. Children who start the vaccine series on or after their 15th birthday need three doses to get complete protection.
•Meningococcal conjugate vaccine
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine protects against four types (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. These bacteria can cause infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream infections (septicemia). Teens should get a booster dose of this vaccine at 16 years old.
•Tdap vaccine
Tdap vaccine provides a booster to continue protection from childhood against three serious diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (also called whooping cough).

Graphic: Your child can get protection from HPV cancers during the same visit they are protected against other serious diseases.
Learn six reasons to get HPV vaccine for your child.

Be sure to check with your doctor to make sure that your pr***en is up-to-date on all the vaccines they need. They may need to “catch up” on vaccines they might have missed when they were younger.

Preteens and teens should also get a flu vaccine every year, by the end of October if possible. It is very important for pr***ens and teens with chronic health conditions like asthma or diabetes to get the flu shot, but the flu can be serious for even healthy kids.

If your teen hasn’t gotten one or more of these vaccines, make an appointment for them to get caught up today. Teens may also receive a serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine. MenB vaccine protects against one type (serogroup B) of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. The preferred age to get MenB vaccine is 16 to 18 years old.

Some pr***ens and teens may faint after getting a shot or any other medical procedure. Sitting or lying down while getting shots and staying that way for about 15 minutes after the shots can help prevent fainting. Most side effects from vaccines are very minor—such as redness or soreness in the arm—especially compared with the serious diseases that these vaccines prevent.

Need help paying for vaccines?

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of vaccines. If you don’t have insurance, or if it does not cover vaccines, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program may be able to help. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines for children ages 18 years and younger, who are not insured, Medicaid-eligible, or American Indian or Alaska Native.

05/29/2018

You may know that Salmonella can contaminate poultry and eggs, but it also sneaks its way into many other foods. Learn what you can do to make your food safer to eat.

Salmonella is a bacteria that commonly causes foodborne illness, sometimes called “food poisoning.” CDC estimates Salmonella causes 1 million foodborne illnesses every year in the United States. During the past few years, outbreaks of Salmonella illness have been linked to contaminated cucumbers, chicken, eggs, pistachios, raw tuna, sprouts, and many other foods.

Five Facts That May Surprise You

Don’t let Salmonella make you or your loved ones sick. Learn these five facts – and tips for lowering your chance of getting a Salmonella infection.

Do I have a Salmonella infection?

Contact your doctor or healthcare provider if you have:
•Diarrhea and a fever over 101.5°F.
•Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving.
•Bloody stools.
•Prolonged vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down.
•Signs of dehydration, such as: ◦Making very little urine.
◦Dry mouth and throat.
◦Dizziness when standing up.

1.You can get a Salmonella infection from a variety of foods. Salmonella can be found in many foods including beef, chicken, eggs, fruits, pork, sprouts, vegetables, and even processed foods, such as nut butters, frozen pot pies, chicken nuggets, and stuffed chicken entrees. When you eat a food that is contaminated with Salmonella, it can make you sick. Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal, which is why it is important to know how to prevent Salmonella infection.
2.Salmonella illness is more common in the summer. Warmer weather and unrefrigerated foods create ideal conditions for Salmonella to grow. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze perishables (foods likely to spoil or go bad quickly), prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours. Chill them within 1 hour if the temperature is 90°F or hotter.
3.Salmonella illness can be serious and is more dangerous for certain people. Symptoms of infection usually appear 6–48 hours after eating a contaminated food, but can take much longer. These symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. In most cases, illness lasts 4–7 days and people recover without antibiotic treatment. Some people may have severe diarrhea and need to be hospitalized. Anyone can get a Salmonella infection, but some groups are more likely to develop a serious illness: older adults, children younger than 5, and people with immune systems weakened from medical conditions, such as diabetes, liver or kidney disease, and cancer or their treatment.
4.Salmonella causes far more illnesses than you might suspect. For every one case of Salmonella illness confirmed by laboratory tests, there are about 30 more cases of Salmonella illnesses that are not Most people who get food poisoning usually do not go to the doctor or submit a sample to a laboratory, so we never learn what germ made them sick.
5.To avoid Salmonella, you should not eat raw eggs or eggs that have runny whites or yolks. Salmonella can contaminate eggs, even perfectly normal-looking ones. But these eggs can make you sick, especially if they are raw or lightly cooked. Eggs are safe when you cook and handle them properly.

05/29/2018

Pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds are great places to have fun, be active, or just relax. Learn how to stay healthy and safe when in the water this summer!

Swimming is one of the most popular sports activities in the United States. Just 2.5 hours of physical activity per week, including water-based activity, has health benefits, no matter our age. As with any form of physical activity, we maximize the health benefits of swimming when we each do our part to minimize the chance of illness and injury.

Swim Healthy, Stay Healthy!

Swimming is a fun and a great way to stay healthy and spend time with family and friends. However, it’s important not to swim or let your kids swim if they have diarrhea. Just one diarrheal incident in the water can release millions of diarrhea-causing germs like Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium), Giardia, Shigella, norovirus, and E. coli O157:H7. This can make other swimmers sick if they swallow a mouthful of contaminated water.

Healthy and Safe Swimming Week May 21- 27, 2018
Join CDC in sharing information swimmers can use to protect themselves and loved ones from illness and injury during Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, May 21-27, 2018.

Most germs are killed within minutes by common pool disinfectants like chlorine or bromine, but Crypto is a germ that can survive in properly chlorinated water for more than 7 days. This is why Crypto is the leading cause of outbreaks linked to swimming in the United States.

Tips for Healthy Swimming

Practicing healthy swimming is important to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy. Whether in the pool, the hot tub/spa, or water playground we can all help protect ourselves and our loved ones from germs by following these simple but effective steps:
•Don’t swim or let children swim when sick with diarrhea.
•Don’t swallow the water.
•Take kids on bathroom breaks every hour.
•Check diapers, and change them in a bathroom or diaper-changing area—not poolside—to keep germs away from the pool.
•Shower before you get in the water. Rinsing off in the shower for just 1 minute helps get rid of any germs that might be on your body.

Prevent Injury

Staying safe in and around the water is important, too. Don’t forget sun safety and drowning prevention. Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death among children 1–14 years old. In fact, drowning kills more young children 1–4 years old than anything else except birth defects.

Poster: Don’t swim or let your kids swim if sick with diarrhea.
Keep kids out of the water if sick with diarrhea! Download more healthy and safe swimming posters.

Of drowning victims who survive and are treated in emergency rooms, more than half are hospitalized or transferred for further care. They often experience brain damage, which can cause memory problems, learning disabilities, or permanent loss of basic functioning (or permanent vegetative state). Swimmers can prevent fatal and non-fatal drowning by learning swimming skills, by wearing life vests, and by swimming under the close supervision of parents, caregivers, or lifeguards who know cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Remember: Think Healthy. Swim Healthy. Be Healthy! This summer and year round, let’s follow CDC’s Steps of Healthy Swimming to protect ourselves and our loved ones from illness and injury when swimming or playing in the water.

05/29/2018

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Meningitis is a diagnosis no parent ever wants to hear. Thankfully, vaccines can prevent infections from some types of germs that cause meningitis. Learn more about meningitis and how it spreads: www.cdc.gov/meningitis

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Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is also referred to as spinal meningitis.

05/29/2018

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup Infections Linked to Rose Acre Farms Shell Eggs

05/29/2018

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.

To lower your skin cancer risk, protect your skin from the sun and avoid indoor tanning. Follow these easy options—

•Stay in the shade, especially during late morning through mid-afternoon.

•Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.

•Wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.

•Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB (broad spectrum) protection.

•Avoid indoor tanning.

05/29/2018

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. To lower your risk, protect your skin from the sun and avoid indoor tanning.

02/13/2018

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY at the North Little Rock Health Unit to bring awareness to heart disease - the leading cause of death for women and men.