School And Sports Physicals

What are school physicals?

School physicals are physical exams for children. A school physical is different from an annual physical because it’s tailored to meet the specific needs of the child and their school’s particular requirements. Most kids have a school physical shortly before each new academic year begins.

When does my child need school physicals?

While public schools in the state of Texas don’t require school physicals for academic enrollment, they do require various immunizations, which are usually included in school physicals. Many private schools may require school physicals for academic enrollment. 

In addition, both public and private schools require physicals before children can participate in athletic programs. For example, all student-athletes enrolled in Texas public schools need a preparticipation physical before their freshman and junior years of high school. 

Many parents find that annual school physicals, prior to the start of every new school year, are a good way to help their children prepare for school and cover their medical needs before any potential issues arise. 

What happens during school physicals?

School physicals start with a full review of your child’s medical background. This includes illnesses, injuries, surgical procedures, hospital stays, immunizations, allergies, medications, and family medical history. This information is crucial in determining exactly what your child needs before the school year starts. 

School physicals at Marsalis Avenue Urgent Care Clinic also include a medical check of many different things, including: 

• Vital signs
• Heart
• Lungs
• Ears
• Eyes
• Nose
• Throat
• Reflexes
• Strength
• Muscles
• Bones
• Abdomen 

 

The exam may differ with the exact purpose, for example, a school physical required for sports participation generally focuses more heavily on physical ability to play the sport in question. 

If your child needs any new or catch-up immunizations, they’ll receive them at the time of their school physical. 

What is a sports physical? 

A sports physical which is required by their school, league/organization and/or state of Texas helps to ensure that the student is healthy to play in the sport of his or her choice.   We review the student’s medical history, immunization record and performs an exam.   If the student has a history of asthma or cardiology issues for example, this may likely be of concern regarding the student’s ability to play sports.   The medical practitioner will discuss medical options that may be of help to the student.   Additionally, the student’s Primary Care provider will have to provide documentation stating that they have evaluated the condition(s) and that the condition(s) will not prevent the student’s participation in their sport(s) of choice. 

The sports physical exam is not intended to take the place of a comprehensive wellness exam, however, our medical team will check the student’s: 

• Height and weight measurement 
• Family medical history, existing medical conditions including their medications and supplements 
• Blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart, heart rate and rhythm 
• Ears, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and abdomen 
• Joint flexibility and strength 
• Urine via a test to identify possible underlying conditions 
  
  The student’s parent must complete the respective parental sections of the necessary forms before the student’s visit to Marsalis Avenue Urgent Care Clinic.   

What happens after my sports physical?

The Marsalis Avenue Urgent Care Clinic team completes the form at the time of your child’s exam, and they’ll discuss the results of the physical with you and your child at that time. If there are any specific restrictions on your child’s activities in school, the team notes that in the exam form and discusses the best way to implement these changes with you.

To schedule your child’s Texas school physical, call Marsalis Avenue Urgent Care Clinic or click on the provided link now. 

 Influenza (Flu Shots) 

Influenza commonly known as the flu is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. The flu virus usually spreads from person to person through coughing sneezing. You can also get the flu by touching a surface that has the flu virus on it, and then touching your nose or eyes.  The flu is most common during certain times of the year, known as flu season. 

Most people who get the flu will feel sick with muscle aches, fever, and other uncomfortable symptoms, but will recover within a week or so. For others, the flu can cause very serious illness, and even death.   In the United States, flu season can begin as early as October and end as late as May.   A flu test can help you determine if you have the flu, so that you can get treated earlier. Early treatment may help lessen the symptoms of the flu.   Feel free to discuss this with one of our medical team members.

TDAP Test

The Tdap vaccine is only for children 7 years and older, adolescents, and adults.  

dap vaccine can prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. 

Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. 

• TETANUS (T) causes painful stiffening of the muscles. Tetanus can lead to serious health problems, including being unable to open the mouth, having trouble swallowing and breathing, or death. 

• DIPHTHERIA (D) can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death. 

• PERTUSSIS (aP), also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Pertussis can be extremely serious especially in babies and young children, causing pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, or death. In teens and adults, it can cause weight loss, loss of bladder control, passing out, and rib fractures from severe coughing. 
• Pain, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, mild fever, headache, feeling tired, and nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomachache sometimes happen after Tdap vaccination. 

 

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccinations.  Let our medical team know if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears if it occurs while you are on-site at our medical facility.    

If you experience an allergic reaction after you leave our medical facility, or if  the clinic. If you see or experience signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness), call 911 and get to the nearest hospital. 

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

 

Tuberculosis (TB) Test 

A TB test measures how the patient’s immune system reacts to the germs that cause TB when present.  There are two types of TB tests: a skin test and a blood test. TB skin and blood tests can show if you’ve ever been exposed to the bacterium that causes TB, but they can’t determine if you have a latent (dormant) or active TB infection.   Other tests may be needed to tell if you have TB disease, such as a chest x-ray (CXR) and other laboratory testing of sputum. The TB skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin on the lower part of the arm. A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm.