March Proyect

903-938-8338 FAX 903-938-8330

Marshall Harrison County Health District mission is to preserve, protect and promote the health of all county residents. In fulfilling its mission, Marshall Harrison County Health District:

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assesses the County's health problems, needs, and resources organizes effective public and private sector strategies to address

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the needs provides services directly to county residents to meet local health

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goals Marshall Harrison County Health District provides equal access to services for all County residents, without regard to race, age, religion or sexual orientation. Through Marshall Harrison County Health District, some personal health services, such as tuberculosis treatment and HIV testing, are free to all. Other services are at a minimal cost. STD’s $8.00, Immunization $10.00 Maternity clinic $15.00 Woman’s Checkup $15.00 TB skin Test $10.00 Pregnancy Test $5.00 While residents have primary responsibility for their health, Marshall Harrison County Health District provides education, referrals, and screenings, when needed, treatment for certain conditions to help residents be as healthy as they can be.

There are good reasons to practice family planning: •

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Mothers and babies are both healthier when there are at least 2-3 years between the births of each child. Families are usually happier when both the mother and the father are ready to welcome a new baby into their home. Overall health is improved by reducing unintended pregnancies, teaching ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and helping individuals identify the early signs of illnesses such as breast, cervical, and testicular cancer. Deciding the right time to have children. This may include a decision to finish school or obtain a job that provides money to support a family.

Handle & Prepare Food Safely Food can carry germs. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces often when preparing any food, especially raw meat. Always wash fruits and vegetables. Cook and keep foods at proper temperatures. Don't leave food out - refrigerate promptly.

Wash Hands Often Clean & Disinfect Commonly Used Surfaces Germ can live on surfaces. Cleaning with soap and water is usually enough. However, you should disinfect your bathroom and kitchen regularly. Disinfect other areas if someone in the house is ill. You can use an EPA certified disinfectant (look for the EPA registration number on the label), bleach solution, or rubbing alcohol.

Cough & Sneeze Into Your Sleeve Don't Share Personal Items Avoid sharing personal items that can't be disinfected, like toothbrushes and razors, or sharing towels between washes. Needles should never be shared, should only be used once, and then thrown away properly.

Get Vaccinated Vaccines can prevent many infectious diseases. You should get some vaccinations in childhood, some as an adult, and some for special situations like pregnancy and travel. Make sure you and your family are up-to-date on your vaccinations. If your regular doctor does not offer the vaccine you need, visit Marshall Harrison County Health District

Vaccination hours: Monday and Thursday - 1:00pm -4:00 pm .

Immunizations help protect you or your child from disease. They also help reduce the spread of disease to others and prevent epidemics. Most are given as shots. They are sometimes called vaccines, or vaccinations. In many cases when you get a vaccine, you get a tiny amount of a weakened or dead form of the organism that causes the disease. This amount is not enough to give you the actual disease. But it is enough to cause your immune system to make antibodies that can recognize and attack the organism if you are ever exposed to it. Sometimes a vaccine does not completely prevent the disease, but it will make the disease much less serious if you do get it. Some immunizations are given only one time. Others require several doses over time. Why should you get immunized? • • • • •

Immunizations protect you or your child from dangerous diseases. They help reduce the spread of disease to others. Getting immunized costs less than getting treated for the diseases that the shots protect you from. Vaccines have very few serious side effects. They are often needed for entrance into school or day care. And they may be needed for employment or for travel to another country.

If you are a woman who is planning to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about what immunizations you have had and what you may need to protect your baby. And if you live with a pregnant woman, make sure that your vaccines are up to date. Traveling to other countries may be another reason to get immunized. Talk with your doctor 6 months before you leave, to see if you need any shots. What immunizations are recommended for children and adolescents? Ask your doctor what shots your child should get. The immunization schedule includes vaccines for:

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Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (also known as whooping cough). Polio. Measles, mumps, and rubella. Chickenpox. Rotavirus. Bacterial meningitis. Hepatitis B. Hepatitis A. Human papillomavirus (HPV). Haemophilus influenzae type b disease or Hib disease. This infection can lead to serious illness in young children, including pneumonia and meningitis. Pneumococcal disease. This infection can also cause pneumonia and meningitis, as well as other serious illnesses, in young children. Flu (influenza). This vaccine is not given to children younger than 6 months.

Immunizations start right after birth, and many are given throughout a baby's first 23 months. Booster shots (the later doses of any vaccines that need to be repeated over time) occur throughout life. Fewer immunizations are needed after age 6. But older children and teens need shots too (such as those for bacterial meningitis and for tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough). Some shots are also given during adulthood (such as tetanus shot). It is important to keep a good, including a list of any reactions to the vaccines. When you enroll your child in day care or school, you may need to show proof of immunizations. Your child may also need the record later in life for college, employment, or travel. Talk to your doctor if you or your child plans to be in a group-living situation, like a college dormitory or summer camp. You may want certain shots, like those for the flu or meningitis.

What vaccines are recommended for adults?

The vaccines you need as an adult depend on your gender, age, lifestyle, travel plans, overall health, and what vaccines you had as a child. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines you need. Depending on your situation, you may need vaccines for: • • • • • • • • •

Chickenpox. Flu. Hepatitis A and/or B. Human papillomavirus (HPV). Measles, mumps, and rubella. Pneumococcal disease. Polio. Shingles. Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

What are the side effects of vaccines? Most side effects from vaccines are minor, if they occur at all. Your doctor will explain the reactions that could occur. They may include: • • • • •

Redness, mild swelling, or soreness where the shot was given. A slight fever. Drowsiness, crankiness, and poor appetite in some babies. A mild rash 7 to 14 days after chickenpox or measles-mumpsrubella shots. Temporary joint pain after a measles-mumps-rubella shot.

Serious reactions, such as a fever over 104.5° (40.3°) or trouble breathing, are rare. If you or your child has an unusual reaction, call your doctor.

An STD is an infectious condition that is passed from one person to another during sexual activity, where bodily fluids are exchanged between partners. This occurs not only during vaginal intercourse, but also during other activity ranging from "deep" kissing to oral and anal sex. What are my chances of getting an STD?

Every year, more than 15 million new cases of STD’s are reported in the United States. If you engage in premarital sexual activity, you will most likely be exposed to STD’s. When you have sex with someone, and that includes oral, anal or vaginal sex,you are essentially having sex with everyone they and their partners have had sex with for the last ten years. Dangers Besides emotional trauma, discomfort, and expense for treatment, STD's can cause a variety of problems. These include brain and heart disorders, liver damage, cancer, future ectopic (tubal) pregnancies, sterility, immune system breakdown, and even death. Women suffer greater physical trauma than men. Even more traumatizing, an infant born to a mother with an STD can

get it during delivery or while breastfeeding. STD's can be especially harmful to infants.

Chlamydia Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STD in the United States with over 4 million new infections each year--primarily among adolescents and young adults. It is a major cause of PID. Symptoms: There are no symptoms in up to 85% of infected women and up to 40% of infected men. Without testing and treatment, infection may persist for as long as 15 months before noticed. Some people may experience pain or discharge. How is it transmitted Chlamydia is transmitted during vaginal, oral, and anal sexual contact; it can also be passed to infants during delivery. Dangers Without treatment, 20-40% of women may develop PID. Can cause infertility, pelvic pain, and damage to women’s fallopian tubes (often causing ectopic (tubal) pregnancies. Advanced stages may require removal of uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Can cause eye infections and pneumonia in babies during the delivery. Treatment can be treated with antibiotics; however, antibiotics will not reverse damage and scarring that has occurred.

The body does not develop immunity, so you can catch it again and again--chances of total sterility increase with each infection.

Gonorrhea Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection. A higher percentage of 15-19 year-olds are affected more than any other age group; also high for African-American adolescents and young adults. Symptoms 80% are not aware they are infected in the early stages. Both men & women may have pus-like discharge, painful urination. Women may have pelvic pain and men have no symptoms-dangerous because they are unaware about spreading it to partner and women has much more serious effects from it. Dangers Can cause PID (10 - 40% of women with gonorrhea will develop PID without early detection/treatment), sterility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain (often severe), abscess on ovaries (if ruptures, can be fatal); may require hysterectomy. Men - scarring of the urethra & urinary tract problems. Infection can spread to other parts of the body (joints and skin). Can cause blindness to baby during delivery. Treatment

Can be treated with antibiotics; however, antibiotics will not reverse damage and scarring that has occurred. The body does not develop immunity, so you can catch it again and again--chances of total sterility increase with each infection.

Syphilis Syphilis is a bacterial Infection. Other than AIDS, it is potentially the most dangerous STD (134,000 new cases reported each year); Rates among females more than twice as high as males in 15-19 age group; African American women have rates that are 7x greater than female population as a whole. Symptoms & Dangers The first symptoms can be very deceptive and may go unnoticed because they can be very mild. Men - 1st stage: swollen, non-painful ulcers (chancre) on genitalia; 2nd stage: changes of skin, fever enlarged lymph's. Women - 1st stage: often goes unnoticed because chancres can be hidden in vagina or on cervix. Without a blood test, very difficult to detect (an early blood test may not even detect it). 2nd stage: same as men.

General Symptoms 1st stage: 10-90 days after contact--develop chancres (no painful ulcers) which usually go away in 2 weeks as the disease goes “underground” in the body. 2nd Stage: 6 weeks to 6 months later-- fever, hair loss, skin rash, wart-like growths on external genitalia; can also cause hepatitis, kidney disease, meningitis, changes in bones, eye infections (this stage can last for years). 3rd Stage: aortic aneurisms, disease of the heart valves; also a common cause of insanity. Can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and congenital abnormalities of a newborn and even death to mother and child. Increased chance of acquiring HIV if exposed. Death of fetus or newborn infant occurs in up to 40% of women with untreated syphilis.

Treatment Syphilis is easily cured with antibiotics: BUT the problem is detecting it before damage begins. Damage cannot be reversed. 50% of those infected are not even aware they have the disease.

HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV is a virus that destroys the body’s ability to fight infection, leaving a person vulnerable to diseases, which can cause death (about 1 million Americans are infected with HIV). The risk of acquiring/transmitting HIV is increased by the presence of other STD’s--especially syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. An estimated 900,000 people in the U.S. are currently infected with HIV. Symptoms Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph glands. Dangers Persons who develop HIV will usually develop AIDS; Persons who develop AIDS will usually die.

The primary sign of pregnancy is missing one or more consecutive menstrual periods. However, because many women experience menstrual irregularities that may cause missed periods, women who miss a period should see their health care provider to find out whether they are pregnant or whether there is another health problem. Others signs and symptoms of pregnancy may include: • • • • • • •

Nausea or vomiting, morning sickness Sore breasts or nipples Fatigue Headaches Food cravings or aversions Mood swings Frequent urination

What is prenatal care and why is it important? Prenatal care is the care woman gets during a pregnancy. Getting early and regular prenatal care is important for the health of both mother and the developing baby. Health care providers recommend women take the following steps to ensure the best health outcome for mother and baby: •

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Getting at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day to help prevent many types of neural tube defects. Health care providers recommend taking folic acid both before and during pregnancy. Maintaining a healthy weight and diet and getting regular physical activity before, during, and after pregnancy Avoiding smoking, alcohol, or drug use before, during, and after

pregnancy

General recommendations for women’s health care advise that women get yearly examinations, breast exam, a pelvic exam and pap test yearly. An annual GYN check-up serves a few purposes: *To detect current health problems, including breast abnormalities, pelvic infections, and cervical cancer * To evaluate risk factors for new problems which can develop * To monitor health changes over time *To prescribe and evaluate use of birth control methods When Should I Have a GYN Exam? Women should receive GYN exams starting at age 18, or whenever they begin sexual activity. If a woman has normal Pap tests, normal breast exams, and no other problems regarding her reproductive health, she may only need a check-up once a year. You’re GYN Exam A GYN exam consists of 2 parts: Medical history interview and lab work (first visit) We do you’re blood pressure, weight, we also ask all medical history, menstrual cycle, sexual activity It’s important for you to be totally honest in this discussion – even if you feel self conscious or uncomfortable

Talking about your personal history. This information helps your provider better understand your health issues, medical concerns, and you. Remember, your records are confidential. Exam with Provider 1.-First, the provider will examine your head and neck, listen to your lungs and heart, and examine your abdomen and legs. This helps us learn your overall health status. 2. - We will examine your breasts for lumps, skin changes, or any other abnormalities. After your provider finishes the general screening and breast exam, s/he will begin your pelvic exam. 3.-Pelvic exams are done for a few reasons: * To learn the general condition and health of your genitals and reproductive organs *To get samples of your cervical cells for a Pap smear, and/or to get testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia. After Your Exam / Check Out Your provider will discuss the results of your exam with you. If your exam was normal, he or she will recommend that you return for another exam and pap smear in one year. At this time, we may prescribe medications including birth control. Please stop at the front desk to get any prescriptions. When Do I Get My Test Results? If something is wrong you get a letter in the mail, or you may call the clinic in one week to get results.

Created by Yuliana Sanchez (MHCHD)