|
|||||||||||||||
|
STANFORD, Calif--
"Many teenagers are not getting adequate healthcare.” GynecologyMany parents shy away from talking about menstruation and sexual activity with their daughters. “In addition, studies indicate that many pediatricians feel uncomfortable performing pelvic exams or providing emergency contraception,” said Golden. The hospital’s Teen Clinic in Mountain View, CA, can screen for and treat sexually transmitted infections, menstrual disorders, and provide family planning counseling and contraceptives.Health maintenance through vaccinationsAlthough most adolescents think their years of immunizations are over, there are some new vaccines especially for them. The Teen Clinic will soon be offering the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, recommended for girls between the ages of 11 and 12, can protect against cervical cancer in adulthood. Teens heading off to college in the fall should consider the meningococcal vaccine to prevent possibly deadly meningitis. Families should also be aware that protection from pertussis, or whooping cough, wanes over time. “There is now a new vaccine available that, combined with the old tetanus vaccine, also protects against pertussis,” said Golden. “If not re-immunized in adolescence, teens can contract a mild form of the disease that can spread to and endanger newborns, the elderly, and others with weakened immune systems.”Eating DisordersStruggles with self-esteem can be devastating if they begin to affect an adolescent’s eating habits. The Teen Clinic can evaluate adolescents or pre-teens with suspected eating disorders and refer them to the Eating Disorders Program if necessary. Those requiring hospitalization can be treated at the Comprehensive Eating Disorders Program, based at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. This program has more than 20 years of experience helping kids with all types of disordered eating. Recent research at Packard Children’s has shown that younger children in particular can experience rapid weight loss before diagnosis. "Pediatricians and parents shouldn't think of weight loss, or even lack of weight gain in a pre-teen, as a phase," cautioned adolescent medicine and eating disorder specialist Rebecka Peebles, MD. "If a child expresses wanting to lose weight, take it seriously."Eat your fruit, don’t drink it!Dieting advice on the internet, in magazines, and even in high school hallways, can make it tough for adolescents to distinguish the facts from the fads. “First and foremost,” said adolescent medicine specialist Sophia Yen, MD, MPH, “teens should cut out soda. Next, juice. Eat your fruit, don't drink it. Whole fruit has fiber, which decreases sugar absorption and promotes a feeling of fullness.” Yen also recommends teens spend no more than one to two hours a day in front of a TV or computer screen. “We also suggest using a pedometer to motivate more walking, or perhaps playing Dance Dance Revolution or using the Nintendo Wii.”AcneThere’s no denying that appearances do matter, particularly for teens. According to Yen, high school students concerned about skin blemishes shouldn’t wait until the week before prom or other social occasions to try to correct the problem. “We need at least a few months’ lead time to successfully treat acne,” said Yen. In addition, relying on non-prescription treatments can be both iffy and expensive. “Don’t waste money on expensive over-the-counter remedies for acne and other skin problems,” says Yen. “Come see us in the Teen Clinic first. We may be able to treat your skin problems more effectively and less expensively.”DepressionFrances Wren, MD, director of the child and adolescent depression clinic at Packard Children's, knows how difficult it can be for some teens to just get through the day, and how important it is to get needed help. "Our goal is to help teens and their families understand depression better and learn skills to cope with their feelings and the effects of depression on their daily life," said Wren, who is leading an ongoing psychotherapy group for affected adolescents aged 14 to 17 - one of several treatment services the clinic provides for depressed children, teenagers and their families.ContactThe Center for Adolescent HealthLucile Packard Children’s Hospital Division of Adolescent Medicine 1174 Castro Street, Suite 250A Mountain View, CA 94040 (650) 694-0600 About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Ranked as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S.News & World Report and Child magazine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 264-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard Children's offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services — from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit www.lpch.org. | |||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Copyright 2008 Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. All rights reserved. |
|||||||||||||||