At the Rowe Creavin Medical Practice, we offer a comprehensive childhood vaccination service free to all, from the age of two months.
Please note that a six week check must be done prior to starting the vaccination schedule.
Vaccinations are carried out by the Nurse or doctor. Appointments can be made by calling 051 -370057
Minor illness such as head cold or cough are not a reason to put off baby vaccination but if your baby has a temperature it’s best to reschedule the vaccination appointment to another day.
click here for vaccination schedule
At Birth :BCG- Given in hospital or at BCG Centres within one month of life
- 2 months : 6:1+PCV- Given at2 months from the actual birth date
- 4 months : 6:1 + Meningitis C
- 6 months : 6:1 + PCV + Men C
- 12 months : MMR + PCV
- 13 months :Hib Booster + Men C
- 4-5 years : 4:1 + MMR Booster- Given in school
What are these vaccinations?
- 6 in 1 = Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio,Hib (Haemophilus Influenza B), Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Hepatitis B Vaccine.
- PCV = Pneumococcal Vaccine.
- Men C = Meningococcal Vaccine.
- MMR = Measles, Mumps & Rubella Vaccine.
- 4 in 1 = Diphtheria, Polio, Tetanus and Pertussis
For further detailedinformation regarding the national childhood vaccination programme, please go to https://www.immunisation.ie/
The primary immunisation programme is a free service for all children.
Children’s illnesses
Unfortunately, even the healthiest baby can get sick. It is worth knowing the signs and symptoms of the common childhood illnesses as well as the treatment and prevention of these illnesses. There are a number of common childhood conditions such as ear infections and even tonsillitis, which may be unavoidable. But children are also subject to serious infectious diseases, some of which can be prevented by immunizations.
Children may be born with health problems. For example, a cleft lip or palate is evident at birth. But some equally common birth defects, such as heart malformations, may not be immediately apparent. Birth defects of all kinds are a consequential concern for children and their parents. It is estimated that between 2%-3% of all children are born with birth defects.
What is an ear infection or otitis media?
Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear. “Otitis” means inflammation of the ear, and “media” means middle. This inflammation often begins with infections that cause sore throats, colds or other respiratory problems, and spreads to the middle ear. These can be caused by viruses or bacteria, and can be acute or chronic.
Acute otitis media is usually of rapid onset and short duration. Acute otitis media is typically associated with fluid accumulation in the middle ear together with signs or symptoms of ear infection; a bulging eardrum usually accompanied by pain, or a perforated eardrum, often with drainage of purulent material (pus). Fever can be present.
Chronic otitis media is a persistent inflammation of the middle ear, typically for a minimum of a month. This is in distinction to an acute ear infection (acute otitis media) that usually lasts only several weeks. Following an acute infection, fluid (an effusion) may remain behind the ear drum (tympanic membrane) for up to three months before resolving. Chronic otitis media may develop after a prolonged period of time with fluid (effusion) or negative pressure behind the eardrum (tympanic membrane).
Chronic otitis media can cause ongoing damage to the middle ear and eardrum and there may be continuing drainage through a hole in the eardrum. Chronic otitis media often starts painlessly without fever. Ear pressure or popping can be persistent for months. Sometimes a subtle loss of hearing can be due to chronic otitis media.
How common is acute otitis media?
Otitis media is the most common diagnosis in sick children in the U.S. It is estimated that 75% of all children experience at least one episode before the age of three.
Why do young children tend to have ear infections?
The Eustachian tube, a canal that runs from the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, is shorter and more horizontal in young children than in older children and adults. This allows easier entry into the middle ear for the microorganisms that cause infection and lead to otitis media. The result is that children are at greater risk of acquiring ear infections than adults.
How does the Eustachian tube change as a child gets older?
As an individual ages, the Eustachian tube doubles in length and becomes more vertically positioned so that the nasopharyngeal orifice (opening) in the adult is significantly below the tympanic orifice (the opening in the middle ear near the ear drum). The greater length and particularly the slope of the tube as it grows serves more effectively to protect, aerate and drain the middle ear.
What microorganisms cause otitis media?
Bacteria and viruses can cause otitis media. Bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), nontypable Hemophilus influenzae and Moraxella account for about 85% of cases of acute otitis media. Viruses account for the remaining 15%. Affected infants under six weeks of age tend to have infections from a variety of different bacteria in the middle ear.
What is the relationship between bottle-feeding and otitis media?
Bottle-feeding is a risk factor for developing otitis media. The position of the breastfeeding child is better than that of the bottle-feeding position in terms of function of the Eustachian tube that leads into the middle ear. If a child needs to be bottle-fed, it is best to hold the infant rather than allow the child to lie down with the bottle. Ideally, the child should not take the bottle to bed. (In addition to increasing the chance for acute otitis media, falling asleep with milk in the mouth enhances the risk of tooth decay.)
Children’s injuries
It may not be possible to prevent a specific birth defect or an illness, but it should be possible to protect a child from an accident and injury, such as from common cuts and burns. Considerable progress has been made in the safety arena, for example, in the rapid recall of dangerous toys. The mandated uses of car seats, safety belts, and bicycle helmets are also examples of advances in child safety.
But other major areas of safety concern remain — such as the all-too-frequent drownings of children in swimming pools, their accidental swallowing of household cleaning products, their being burned by a hot stove or heater. The list is endless. All of us must exercise continued vigilance and make every effort to be sure that a child’s environment is made as safe as it possibly can be.
Tips for successful toilet training
- Keep a positive attitude and let that reflect in your interaction with your child during this process.
- Keep the child in loose-fitting clothing that is simple to remove.
- Keep an extra set of clothing (especially pants) in the car at all times. Accidents will happen. Follow the Boy Scout motto: “Be prepared.”
- Teach boys to urinate in a seated position. Many parents will reserve the standing position following successful bowel movements in the toilet.
- Make bowel movement expulsion an easy task by keeping stools soft by encouraging high-fibre foods and watching for excessive foods that lead to constipation (such as excessive milk/dairy products, large amounts of bananas, large amounts of pasta).
- If your child looses interest or resists toilet training, stop and drop back to nappies for a few weeks.