Each year in the United States, there are more than six million visits to pediatric medical centers. Children’s health and safety are a major concern for any parent, and it’s important to know what to look out for to help keep a child healthy. Here are three common medical issues for children and what all parents should know about them.

1. Vaccinations
One of the main reasons that people take their children to pediatric offices is for vaccinations. This is a hot button topic these days, but the fact is that children who are not vaccinated for certain diseases are, of course, more likely to contract them. Children who do not have the measles vaccine are 35 times more likely to get it. Children who do not have the pertussis vaccine are eight more times likely to get it. Vaccinations are simply a good preventative measure.

2. Accidents
Another common issue for children’s health is accidents. In fact, accidents are the leading cause of children’s deaths in the U.S. It’s important to equip the home with child protection measures like child safety gates, locks on doors and cabinets where chemicals or other harmful substances are stored. Make sure your child is always properly restrained in a vehicle and that he or she is always supervised near a body of water.

3. Disease
The third common children’s health issues is disease. More than 2,200 children die of cancer in the United States each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than seven million children suffer from asthma, and another 215,000 children under the age of 20 suffer from diabetes. It’s important to make sure children regularly see a pediatric physician for managing diseases and preventative pediatric care to help them live longer and healthier lives.

Do you have any questions about getting pediatric care or finding a pediatrician? Feel free to ask us in the comments section below. More like this article.