Medical Exams Often Overlooked on Back-to-School Checklists

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- School may have just started, but are your students already behind on their exams?

An essential, but often overlooked, part of the back-to-school season are trips to the doctor, dentist and optometrist for routine health exams to ensure students can see the blackboard, their teeth are healthy, and their immunizations are up-to-date. That's why Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) is reinforcing the importance of parents talking with their child's pediatrician about the specific examinations their child should receive.

"The start of the school year is an excellent time to take a minute to stop and think about whether your children and teenagers are receiving the health care exams they need to perform their best in school," said Dr. Michael Jaeger, managing medical director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. "This includes making sure they have received a routine eye exam and dental cleaning."

For those parents who picked up pencils, pens and notebooks, but haven't yet gotten their students to the doctor, here are a few health care checklists to help complete the back-to-school process.

Vaccinations

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are many recommended vaccines for children and teens, including influenza, which should be given to all school-age children from six months to 18 years. Other immunizations include:

• The meningococcal vaccine, which is recommended for those who are age 11-12 and at age 13-18 if not previously vaccinated.

• The tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, which is recommended for all adolescents age 11-12 who have not received a tetanus and diphtheria toxoids vaccine (Td) booster dose. Adolescents between age 13-18 who missed the 11-12 Tdap dose or received Td only are encouraged to receive one dose of Tdap five years after the last Td/DtaP dose.

• The varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. All children should receive two doses of the chickenpox vaccine at age 12-15 months and 4-6 years. Since the risk for transmission can be high among school-aged children and teens, those without evidence of immunity should receive two doses of the chickenpox vaccine, and those who received one dose previously should receive a second dose.

• The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. All children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine. A first dose is recommended at ages 12-15 months and a second dose at ages 4-6 years. If not previously vaccinated, children and teens age 7-18 should be vaccinated.

• The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is recommended for girls beginning at ages 11-12 and may be given to boys beginning at ages 11-12 to reduce their likelihood of acquiring genital warts. The HPV vaccine is a three-dose series administered over a six-month period.

For the 2010-2011 flu season, which begins in the fall of 2010, the seasonal flu vaccine will include protection against the 2009 H1N1 virus. All children through age 18 should be immunized. Younger children who have never had a seasonal vaccine will need two doses. Additional information about the flu is available at flu.gov and cdc.gov.

Vision

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Bright Futures, 3rd Edition, school age children should be evaluated for visual difficulties at their annual visit and formally screened according to the AAP's recommended schedule.

In addition, the American Public Health Association recently reported that one-in-four children in kindergarten through sixth grade had a vision problem. Some studies indicate that 80 percent of learning in children occurs visually; therefore, getting regular routine eye exams should be a major part of the back to school preparation. Undiagnosed vision problems can lead to difficulty with schoolwork, resulting in poor performance.

According to the American Optometric Association's 2009 American Eye-Q® survey, 60 percent of children identified as "problem learners" actually suffer from undetected vision problems and, in some cases, have been inaccurately diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

"Having healthy eyes and clear vision can make all the difference in how a child learns and performs in class," said Dr. Jaeger. "Poor vision can result in lower grades and ultimately lower self esteem."

Dental

Interestingly, while many parents do make sure their child is current on their immunizations and vision exams, a visit to the dentist is oftentimes an afterthought. However, when children and teens get routine dental exams, many problems or issues can be caught early and possibly corrected.

The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggest parents take their child to a dentist as soon as the first tooth appears, or at least by his or her first birthday. Children should then start a regular routine of visiting the dentist for a dental exam in a schedule recommended by the dentist.

According to the CDC, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year nationwide because of dental-related illness, and more than half of children aged 5-9 have had at least one cavity or filling, with 78 percent of 17-year-olds having experienced tooth decay.

"We encourage our members to make sure their children start the school year off on the right foot health-wise by getting the recommended immunizations, and having their eyes and teeth examined," said Dr. Jaeger. "These simple exams are essential for keeping children and teens healthy, letting them focus on other events and activities during the school year."

Many insurance policies cover routine exams, but this can vary based on the policy or type of insurance you have. Anthem provides coverage for most vaccines and exams, and Anthem policyholders should confirm their specific benefits by calling the toll-free number listed on their insurance card. If you are unsure of whether or not doctor, dental or vision screenings are covered by your health insurance, contact your insurer to find out before going to the doctor.

Persons interested in purchasing insurance coverage for themselves or their family can contact Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield at 1-800-742-8199 or online at www.anthem.com.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin ("BCBSWi") underwrites or administers the PPO and indemnity policies; Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation ("Compcare") underwrites or administers the HMO policies; and Compcare and BCBSWi collectively underwrite or administer the POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin