Methodist Healthcare | San Antonio | Keeping Well | Fall 2016

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As Zika-carrying mosquitoes appear
in the United States, Methodist Stone
Oak Hospital Fertility Center continues
to advise current fertility patients and
couples considering fertility treatments
to take preventive steps to protect them-
selves from the virus.
The virus is spread through a bite
from the Aedes aegypti or Aedes al-
bopictus mosquito, a blood transfusion
or lab exposure, sex with an infected
man, or from a pregnant woman to
her inutero baby. The current outbreak
was first reported in Brazil in 2015. In
2016, new clusters led the World Health
Organization to declare Zika a “pub-
lic health emergency of international
concern.” There is no vaccine and no
treatment at this time.
“Most of the data collected to date has
involved pregnant women,” said Erika
Munch, MD, a physician at the Center.
It’s magical when a child holds
a treasured toy for the first
time. That precious look in
the child’s eyes says it all. For
grownups, that’s the joy of giv-
ing toys for birthdays, holidays
or just because.
But while kids want fun stuff,
they need safe playthings, too.
Thousands of toy-related injuries
happen every year. So keep
these safety tips in mind on your
next trip down the toy aisle.
Methodist Stone Oak Hospital Fertility
Center warns against Zika exposure
Raising awareness before and during fertility treatment
“Not enough is known about the effects
of Zika on those trying to conceive.”
“Based on current information about
Zika, microcephaly and birth defects,
taking every possible precaution is abso-
lutely essential for any woman of child-
bearing age,” she added. “This includes
using mosquito repellent, wearing
protective clothing, and staying indoors
during peak times of mosquito activity,
like sunset. We recommend using EPA-
registered insect repellents and applying
as directed.”
Munch said that Methodist Stone
Oak Hospital Fertility Center is advising
women to postpone unnecessary travel
to Zika-affected areas for themselves and
their partner, if possible.
“We don’t know enough about the vi-
rus,” she explained. ‘We are dealing with
a new and evolving disease process.” She
added that four out of five people who get
Zika do not show symptoms. So detection
depends on how long ago the person was
exposed to the virus and what type of test
was used. Initial tests may be negative,
with positive results showing up later.
Also, it is not known how long the virus
stays active in reproductive tissues.
Methodist Stone Oak Hospital
Fertility Center specialists have joined
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) in raising awareness
of the need for preparedness and the
importance of postponing fertility
treatment for eight weeks after traveling
to a country reporting epidemic or
endemic Zika occurrences. Men exposed
to Zika should use a condom during
sexual activity for at least eight weeks
after travel to those areas, and up to six
months if symptomatic. Zika exposure
can delay plans to undergo a fertility
treatment cycle, including in vitro
fertilization or intrauterine insemination.
“We don’t know if all exposures to
Zika lead to serious birth defects, so
we are reassuring our patients to use
caution but don’t panic,” said Munch.
“It’s important for everyone to do their
part—wearing repellent, eliminating
standing water and staying indoors at
twilight when mosquitoes are most ac-
tive. Then, we are more likely to break
the chain of disease-spreading mos-
quitoes and limit the risk of a national
health problem.”
The CDC regularly updates its website
and provides information about how the
virus spreads and the risks to pregnant
women. Methodist Healthcare has been
following guidelines from the CDC and
working with Metro Health to provide
the public with information on the virus.
For additional information on Zika from
the CDC, please visit our CDC micro-
site at .
Information related specifically to Texas
can be found at .
For more information about
the Methodist Stone Oak Hospital
Fertility Center, please visit
.
1Read labels carefully. Labels
on toy packages can help
you decide if the toy is safe for a
child’s age and matches his or her
interests and abilities. Make sure
the label says the toy is nontoxic—
meaning it doesn’t contain materi-
als that could poison a child.
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Safe Kids Worldwide
2Look for potential hazards.
For instance, loud toys can
harm a child’s hearing. Strings or
ribbons on stuffed animals can
cause strangulation—remove them
if the gift is for a young child. And
small game pieces are OK for older
kids, but they may choke a younger
child if swallowed.
3Think twice
about flying
toys. Toys that shoot
things into the air can
be a blast. But some
parts may injure eyes or
be choking hazards.
5Hand them a helmet, too. Buying a riding toy? Don’t forget to include this safety gear for your skateboarding teen
or tricycling tyke.
5
tips
for buying
safe toys
4For young kids, avoid toys that
need to be plugged in. Children
under 10 are safer with battery-powered
toys instead. Just remember to
keep any button batteries—which
might be swallowed—away from
younger siblings.
When your child has a medical need,
you need immediate help. Although
you should always call upon the special
relationship you have with your child’s
doctor, there is an additional resource
for quick answers: Call-A-Nurse for
Children from the Methodist Children’s
Hospital. Specially trained pediatric
nurses will personally assist you with
medical advice concerning your ill child.
Ask for a free refrigerator magnet so
you’ll always have the number handy.
Phone 210- 22-Nurse (210- 226-8773)
for Call-A-Nurse for Children from the
Methodist Children’s Hospital. Call 9-1-1
in case of a medical emergency.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 5 p.m. to
8 a.m., and around the clock on week-
ends and major holidays.
Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial
Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving
and Christmas.
Tenemos enfermeras que hablan
español.
Call-A-Nurse
6 K E E P I N G W E L L F A L L 2 0 1 6
N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H C A R E