Kids Should See Pediatricians Regularly

Adults may be able to skip a couple of years between medical checkups but not children--they need to see their pediatricians on a regular basis.

“A child’s weight triples in the first year,” says Dr. Fernando Mendoza, associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. “The next three years are the period of most rapid development.” Frequent pediatric visits can detect “abnormalities affecting motor, muscle, vision or hearing development.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, healthy newborns should receive a physical exam two to three days after discharge from the hospital and again before they reach 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, a year, 15 and 18 months. Thereafter, children should be seen at 24 months, then annually to age 6, followed by visits every two years up to age 20.

Clearly Helpful Gift Ideas for Older Folks

The American Optometric Assn. offers practical gift ideas for older folks, especially if they’re on a fixed income:

* Sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses every day (no matter what the weather) makes adapting to nighttime easier. Lenses should block 99%-100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation.

* Lights. A 60-year-old needs seven times more light than a 20-year-old. Consider desk and reading lamps, flashlights, night lights, outdoor lights, timers and dimmer switches.

* Magnifiers. Hand-held and standing models are useful for handiwork, and reading small print and maps. Some desk and standing models combine light and magnifier.

* Safety goggles. For house- and yardwork, sports activities.

* Reflective tape. Add to clothing and shoes for high visibility during walks, jogs and bike rides.

Briefly . . .

USC School of Medicine seeks African American volunteers (ages 18-70) for a study on the link between hypertension and kidney disease. Volunteers must be non-diabetic with a history of high blood pressure treated by medication. Call (213) 224-5261 . . . Last month, UCLA Medical Center’s Blood Donor Center found a novel way to get blood: Staff members doled out signed copies of Anne Rice’s “The Vampire Chronicles” to the first 100 blood donors . . . For a free brochure on antibacterial kitchen tips, call (800) 99-LYSOL . . . From 1973 to 1990, twin births rose 65%, more than twice the rate of single births, and triplet births increased 221%, seven times higher than single births, according to Rush Medical College . . . Drowsiness factors in 200,000 automobile accidents and 1,600 fatalities a year, says the California Department of Transportation . . . 1993 Vitamin E sales fetched $425 million, gaining on Vitamin C as the country’s favorite supplement . . . A Penn State study finds that toddlers with frequent bouts of middle-ear fluid play by themselves more, even when they’re well, because of moderate hearing loss, which can last for months after an ear infection . . . The Academy of General Dentistry reports that the fluoride content of most bottled water is well below the standard level (0.3 parts per million) . . . Children born to women who smoked during pregnancy have reduced lung function for years after birth, Harvard School of Public Health reports.

* This health roundup, compiled by C.A. Wedlan from wire service reports, appears in Life & Style on Tuesdays.