Dr. Boyle’s back to school tips

For most Vincentian children, the summer vacation is an exciting and fun-filled period. During the two months away from school, some children take trips overseas, others visit relatives or engage in several summer programmes, while some use the time to play or catch up on their schoolwork.{{more}}

After a while the summer takes a toll on their bodies.

SEARCHLIGHT conducted an interview with Paediatrician Dr. Rosemary Boyle who operates The Kids Clinic in Kingstown. Dr. Boyle used the opportunity to share several valuable ‘Back To School Tips’ that can help our kids to be healthy as they return to school for the new academic year.

Medical Fitness

Medical fitness is top priority, said Dr.Boyle. She noted that parents should ensure that their children are well prepared in this area.

Dr Boyle recommends that children have a complete medical check before they return to school. She said this examination should include blood pressure checks, height, weight, and blood tests where necessary. She also said that parents should ensure that his or her child’s vaccines are up to date.

Rest

Sharing her knowledge freely, Dr. Boyle said that children should be well rested before they return to school. Undeniably, there are many activities that children engage in during the summer, but as the season comes to an end, parents should ensure that their children get adequate rest, she recommended.

Nutrition

Children should also get adequate nutrition, she added. Dr. Boyle explained that during the holidays, children are usually given the freedom to eat as they desire and sometimes some foods that they consume might not be the best for them. Parents should ensure that their children have a balanced diet so that they can be well nourished when they enter or re-enter school.

“Even when they go in, you have to ensure that whatever they have at school has adequate nutrition,” said Dr. Boyle.

Dr. Boyle stressed that paediatricians have always advised that a well balanced diet should include the six groups of food in adequate proportions. She explained that at the primary school there is the school feeding programme. However, in the event that mothers prepare their children’s meal, they should ensure that the child receives a healthy snack, and a lunch that includes most or all of the food groups, “including vegetables which the children don’t ever like to eat”.

Prevention of illnesses

September to December is our typical flu season, the good doctor explained. She said, already she has been seeing quite a bit of it during the last few weeks.

“I am not referring to Swine Flu. I am referring to the typical flu which comes around at this time. If there are any signs of it they (parents) should have it checked out and be treated. There are flu vaccines available. They are not readily available in the public sector, but some private doctors bring it in. It is advised that children get it once a year to prevent the flu. If they get a bout of it, it is not as bad,” said Dr. Boyle, as she encouraged parents to consider the flu vaccine for their children.

She further disclosed that the November-December period is the peak season for diarrhoea and vomiting, sometimes caused by Gastroenteritis.

“We tend to have a peak at that time. We advise early hygiene, hand washing, boiling of the water, as well as making sure that their food is properly cooked,” said Dr.Boyle.

With regard to pre-schoolers, Dr. Boyle pointed out that by age three, they should have already had all their vaccines. She said this group is more vulnerable to respiratory infections such as common cold, bronchial pneumonia, and pneumonia.

Supplements

A child who is a healthy and eats a healthy diet really doesn’t need supplements, but it is the cultural practice in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Boyle explained.

“Everybody gets their multi vitamins and iron,” she stated with a smile.

She said in her practice, she recommends multi-vitamin supplements, but this is done in cases where children don’t always eat as well as they should, especially for things like iron which is not already available in their usual foods.

“Remember we have to eat special foods like leafy vegetables, beans, peas, beet, which our kids don’t like to eat. So you find a lot of kids are anaemic. That is one reason why I tend to go ahead and recommend the supplement,” said Dr. Boyle, adding “if a child is healthy, eating healthy, getting all the minerals from their food, they don’t really need to take vitamins”.

Worms

The question of deworming is commonly asked, said Dr. Boyle. Interestingly, she said in her practice, she has discovered that Vincentian children don’t have lots of worms.

“I have done a series of tests such as stool tests and there are not many cases of worms, but again its part of our culture that children get worming every time they are going to school,” said Dr. Boyle.

She said deworming may do some good, but it is not absolutely necessary unless parents are sure the child has an itchy bottom.

Dr. Boyle encourages regular yearly check-ups. She said children over three should have theirs once a year, and those under three every six months.