Tag - CDC
24Mar

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. President Reagan issued this public proclamation with the goal of urging Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities “the encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines developmental disabilities as a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language or behavior areas. They include but are not limited to the following: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Autism...

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03Feb

Provider Alert! Novel Coronavirus Infection – Continued Updates

Date: 2/3/2020 TCHP wants to help keep you up-to-date on developing issues.  Because updates are coming so frequently about the new coronavirus, please look for our posts on TheCheckup.org where you’ll find the latest information.  Also check with your institutional leaders to see if they have developed specific protocols for infection control. A new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was recently detected in Wuhan City, China and is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness. The 2019-nCoV outbreak began in December 2019, and Chinese health officials...

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19Dec

CDC data release shows STD diagnoses at record high in U.S.

CDC data release shows STD diagnoses at record high in U.S. The CDC has released preliminary surveillance data presented at the 2018 STD Prevention Conference in Washington, D.C. Data analysis of the five year trend of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) showed a sharp increase in STDs for four consecutive years (see chart). In 2017, almost 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported to the CDC, an increase of more than 200,000 cases from 2016 (see graph). Young women continue...

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03Jul

Zika Virus Resources

The clinical and epidemiologic information about Zika Virus is rapidly evolving. Below you will find a list of websites and resources with the most up-to-date information regarding the infection. Texas Department of State Health Services Webinar: The Department of State Health Services has prepared a recorded webinar on the Zika Virus Disease by Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS Commissioner. The presentation includes information relevant to Texas providers on Zika incidence, distribution of the disease, modes of transmission, strategies to prevent transmission, and symptoms. The...

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07Jun

Not Too Much and Not Too Long: Appropriate Use of Opiates for Pain Management

In March 2016, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.  The most important points for primary care providers treating acute pain severe enough to require opioids are to prescribe the lowest effective dose of immediate-release opioids and to prescribe a quantity no greater than what is necessary.  Three days or less will often be sufficient; more than seven days will rarely be needed. Opioid pain medication use presents serious risks,...

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05Mar

Mosquitoes: Safe repellant and protection

By: Dr. Lia C. Rodriguez, MD FAAP Medical Director, Texas Children’s Health Plan The recent Zika virus epidemic has increased awareness of mosquito born illnesses. Currently, the biggest risk of infection with Zika is for women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy and their partners. Nevertheless, mosquitos can also carry other illnesses and create discomfort. There are several ways we can advise families to protect themselves and their children from mosquito bites. Advising environmental control is one important way. Mosquitos breed in standing...

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01Mar

It’s not too late to vaccinate!

The influenza season is underway, and flu activity is increasing in the US according to the latest CDC reports. Most reports of severe illness are in unvaccinated patients, therefore vaccination continues to be critical to provide protection against infection. Laboratory data confirms that the influenza viruses circulating in our communities match the strains in the 2015-2016 influenza vaccines. It is NOT too late to vaccinate our patients as antibodies only take about 2 weeks to develop for protection against the...

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