Getting your yearly flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting influenza. The vaccine arrived for public use in Chatham-Kent in October. Certain people are at a greater risk for serious complications if they get the flu. Examples are older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions like asthma, diabetes or … Read More
This rash is itchy-Could I have Scabies?
What are the symptoms? A rash caused by tiny insects called mites that burrow into the skin. The rash is itchy and has small, red, raised spots that appear on the fingers, elbows, armpits and abdomen. The itching is usually worse at night. Follow-up with your health care provider for appropriate diagnosis. How is it spread? Scabies is spread person-to-person … Read More
Hand, foot and mouth disease
Did you know that people with hand, foot and mouth disease are most contagious during their first week of illness? Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease include: fever sore throat decreased appetite lack of energy blister like sores in the mouth rash of flat red spots that may blister on the palms of the hands, the feet and sometimes … Read More
Your Vaccine Is Protected
Did you know that the Chatham-Kent Public Health plays an important role in making sure that the vaccines you receive are safe and effective? Public Health Nurses in Chatham-Kent inspect every location that stores publicly funded vaccine. This is called a Cold Chain Inspection. Inspections occur at all doctors’ offices, long term care facilities, retirement homes, pharmacies and hospitals at … Read More
I need a TB Skin Test for school….HELP!
Are you entering post-secondary education and require a Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)? For students in Community Studies, Health Sciences or other programs where the placement site requests pre-placement health clearance will require a 2-step TST. Check your program requirements for specifications. The Mantoux TST is a standard method of determining if a person has been infected with the Mycobacterium … Read More
What is Pertussis and how can I prevent it?
Pertussis (also called whooping cough) is a respiratory infection that can cause spells of violent coughing for weeks or months. It is spread easily through coughing and sneezing. Pertussis can also cause pneumonia, ear infections, seizures, swelling of the brain and death. Children younger than one year of age have the highest risk of complications. However, pertussis protection is … Read More
Every Child Needs Protection
Children in Ontario receive immunizations to help protect them from serious childhood diseases. Vaccines help the immune system learn how to recognize and fight the germs that causes diseases. Children begin immunizations at the age of 2 months. Many vaccines require more than one injection before they can offer protection, so it is important to receive all shots. Any immunization … Read More
Stop! Clean Your Hands!
Hand cleaning is very simple. It is the best way to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses such as the flu and MRSA after you’ve touched a potentially contaminated surface at the gym, at work or school, or at home or if you are dealing with a nasty cold. www.handhygiene.ca recommends that we clean our hands for at least 20 … Read More
Vaccines are Important!
Parents want to do everything possible to make sure their children are healthy and protected from preventable diseases. Vaccination is the best way to do that. Vaccination protects children from serious illness and complications of vaccine-preventable diseases which can include amputation of an arm or leg, paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death. Vaccine-preventable diseases, such … Read More
How to Safely Dispose of Needles
Finding needles in community areas such as parks is a health and safety concern for everyone. Used syringes should be disposed of properly in order to protect others from injury and infections like Hepatitis C and HIV. It’s important to remember that the risk of becoming infected with one of these infections through a needle-stick injury is very low. Prevention … Read More
Is your child home-schooled?
They may qualify for free Hepatitis B, Meningococcal and Human Papillomavirus vaccines that are offered FREE to grade 7 students in Chatham-Kent. Nurses from the Public Health Unit visit each school and provide these vaccinations. They are not free from a Health Care Provider. Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. There is no cure. The … Read More
Do you have a child enrolled in Daycare?
Did you know… Chatham-Kent Public Health is required by Ontario law to maintain immunization records for every child attending daycare and school. The Health Unit assesses immunization records to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date. This is done to protect your child in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease. By law, these immunizations are mandatory: diphtheria, … Read More