Sore throats matter – preventing rheumatic fever
A child ’ s sore throat can lead to rheumatic fever if it ’ s left untreated . Rheumatic fever is very serious and could turn into rheumatic heart disease , which could damage your child ’ s heart for life . It may even require major heart surgery .
Māori and Pacific children aged 4-19 years are much more likely to get rheumatic fever .
Children with rheumatic fever will :
• need months off school and sports ;
• need monthly injections for at least 10 years .
Every time your child has a sore throat it could be serious . Don ’ t ignore , take them to a doctor or nurse straight away to get it checked . Or you can take them to one of the local sore throat clinics for a free check .
“ Rheumatic fever can be prevented , if sore throats are dealt with early . If your child complains of a sore throat , take them to the local health centre or local sore throat clinic to be checked ,” says Dr Jim Miller , Medical Officer of Health for Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service .
If your child is given antibiotics , it ’ s important they take them for the whole 10 days , even if they feel better , to stop the sore throat turning into rheumatic fever .
For more information about rheumatic fever and details on local sore throat clinics visit www . ttophs . govt . nz / rheumatic _ fever
Members of the BOPDHB Midwifery team celebrate International Day of the Midwife ( IDM ) 2016 .
Gift of life all in a day ’ s work
Bringing new life into the world each and every day is a privilege for one group of healthcare professionals .
Midwives around the world work hard to ensure women and newborns receive quality care and nowhere is that more true than in the Bay of Plenty . They were recognised earlier in May on International Day of the Midwife ( IDM ) 2016 . The theme of this year ’ s event was ‘ Women and Newborns : The Heart of Midwifery ’.
“ We would like to believe we are the heart of the hospital , bringing new life into the world every day ,” said Tauranga Hospital Midwifery Manager Esther Mackay . “ Those special moments for families captured forever in their memories are part of our working day , making us feel privileged observers but vigilantly ensuring safety .
“ We bring our expertise in decisionmaking at a normal birth supporting new practitioners or taking over the more complex care . In the postnatal ward we educate women and families as they begin their journey into parenthood . Working in partnership we give women and families the tools to make informed decisions in bringing up their children and to continue their parenting journey with confidence .”
If you have moved house or changed your GP recently it ’ s important you let us know your new details . You can do this through the Contact Us page form on the website , www . bopdhb . govt . nz , in person when you next visit , or by calling 07 579 8815 .
Esther said she also wanted to highlight the work her team puts into a host of initiatives such as smokefree pregnancies , immunisation programmes in pregnancy and after birth , safe sleeping , breast-feeding and much more .
“ We have both midwives and nurses working in maternity so it is a great time to celebrate both professions working together as a team . Multi-coloured balloons show our appreciation of our nursing colleagues in the ward and neonatal unit , who celebrate International Nurses Day in May as well , also valuing the relationship with obstetric and paediatric teams in the care of women and families .
“ All midwives and maternity staff are responsible for promoting healthy pregnancies to facilitate healthy outcomes for mother and baby .”
It is World Smokefree Day on Tuesday 31 May and an emphasis on smokefree pregnancies will be highlighted within both Tauranga and Whakatane hospitals and in communities across the Bay .
Planned events include one on Tuesday 31 May , from 10am-1.30pm at the Fraser Cove Shopping Centre , Tauranga .
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