What does a teenager have in common with a toddler? Temper tantrums? Yea, maybe. Whining? Sometimes. Risk-taking? Absolutely! Teenagers are generally healthy, but can risk their health and safety with the choices they make. I’ve been treating a 17 year-old teen in my office for a few years. He has a history of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder. A few years ago, he was just focused on having his own way. He didn’t want to listen to his parents, teachers, or me! He was headed down a path of self-destruction, like a lot of teens I know. But, after a lot of failing grades and a few legal issues, he finally decided to turn his life around. Here, I’ll share with you a few of the most common medical concerns in teens that I face on a day-to-day basis, and ways to handle them.
Accidents
Just like any other stage in childhood, accidents are the leading cause of death in teens. Per the CDC, injuries from burns, drowning, falls, poisoning, and road traffic are common among all children.
Teenagers in their early years of driving are at a high risk of accidents. Encourage your teenage to wear his seat belt at all times, and to pay attention when driving. He must keep his eyes on the road at all times. Forget about talking on the phone, answering text message, of wearing ear buds while driving. The same goes for walking, skateboarding, or riding a bike or scooter. Teach him to pay attention!
Your teen should know how to swim, and should never swim alone. Be careful around bonfires and hot surfaces. And he should know how to handle household “poisons” appropriately. Address any sports-related injuries quickly. And don’t allow your child to play if he’s seriously hurt.
Teach your teen the importance of making good choices, and the consequences that come with bad choices. He should stay away from silly “dares” because these can sometimes be fatal.
Suicide
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in kids and young adults ages ages 10-24 years. The suicide rate tends to increase in younger and younger children every year. It breaks my heart to know that a 10 year-old’s life becomes so unbearable that he wants to end it. Pay close attention to your teen, allow him to talk, while you sit back and listen. Offer advice whenever necessary, and get your child help ASAP, whenever you notice any signs of withdrawal, sleep changes, serious anxiety or depression. If your child is no longer performing as well as he used to in school, activities, or at home, dig deep to find out why.
Cigarettes, Drugs, and Alcohol
These all used to be adult problems. But lately, younger children are being exposed to cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol. Teens usually start off experimenting with these just to be “cool”. But then they get hooked. Again, pay close attention to your teen, so that you can pick up on any changes in behavior caused by these substances. Don’t allow him to hang out with other kids that are actively using any of these. Even though it may seem “cool” right now, cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol can cause serious consequences down the line. Legal issues, failing grades, and just plain ‘ole stupid choices while drunk or high are all possible. Not to mention lung cancer and other lung issues that come with consistent use of cigarettes.
Bullying
Of course, bullies have always been around. Years ago, they would pick on you face-to-face. It was much more visible. Parents and teachers were able to intervene quicker, because it was much more evident then. Bullies were also less likely to do and say a lot of things. Now, with the internet and social media, it’s so much easier for a bully to hide behind a computer screen and tear down their peers. It’s important that we teach our children about the safe use of the internet and social media. Have an open door policy. Let your teen know he can come to you whenever something inappropriate is said or done to him. Don’t allow bullies to ruin your teen’s self-esteem, causing issues with anxiety and depression.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Unfortunately, teens are having sex at a younger and younger age nowadays. I have treated teens for STDs, and have sat with families dealing with a teen pregnancy. Nothing good comes out of sex as a teenager, so I advise all of my teens to practice abstinence until they’re in a stable, long-lasting relationship – ideally marriage. I know there’s a lot of peer pressure out there, so it’s hard for them to stick to this. But, I warn them about the sexually transmitted diseases, the risk of teen pregnancy, and the emotional heart break that can come from sex at a young age. I’ve never heard a teen say “I’m ready to be a mom!”.
Teens just need to be reminded about the possible consequences of their decisions. If your teen still chooses to have sex, counsel them about using condoms to prevent STDs and pregnancy, and perhaps even birth control. Again, open, honest discussion with your teen is the best way to keep them safe.
Mono
This is a viral throat infection, using spread through the exchange of saliva. That’s why it’s called the “kissing disease”. That’s also why it’s more common in teens than any other age. It usually shows up with symptoms similar to strep throat. Your teen will have a sore throat, swollen tonsils, fevers, and just feel pretty lousy. Mono can usually last for weeks. If your child is diagnosed with mono, he should drink plenty of fluids, take pain relievers for comfort, and stay away from contact sports. The spleen can sometimes get large in mono, and getting hit in the spleen can cause it to rupture. This can cause internal bleeding, and is a big deal, of course!
Vaccine-preventable Illnesses
Just like any other age group, it’s important to keep your teen up-to-date with his vaccines. The same illnesses that can affect younger children, can also affect an un-vaccinated older child. Things like tetanus, the flu, measles, chicken pox, meningitis, and bacteria in the blood can be prevented through vaccines. The Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine is an important one to give to your child as soon as you can (as early as age 9). It protects against one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases that can lead to cervical cancer. Think of it as “cancer prevention”, not a “sex vaccine”, as many people think. Keep your teen’s yearly well visits, and keep him on track with his shots.
Other Illnesses
Your teen can catch the same illnesses as Elementary School-aged children. These illnesses are usually milder as they get older, but can still make your teen feel pretty lousy for a week or two. Most illnesses can be treated at home. But, contact your child’s physician if you’re concerned about any of his symptoms.
There you have it! This is my brief list of the most common illnesses I see in teens. Keep these in mind. We all need to work hard to keep our teens healthy and safe. And to give them the brightest future possible!
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I used to get sick so often. As a teen, I remember missing 1-2 weeks of school and that would be a lot in Gr.ade 11 and 12. I got sick quite a bit in college too! Staying on-campus in college, with germs spreading around on on-campus residences and especially when everyone was stressed about mid-terms.
Virginia, I completely understand! That’s one thing I didn’t discuss…I may add it into the post. Kids are generally less likely to get sick as they get older. But when you throw in the stresses of life, it makes them more likely to get sick. We have to teach our teens to practice good self care before they become adults! College dorms are also breeding grounds for infection, so good hand-washing and hygiene in general are so important. Thanks for reading!