Vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccine-preventable diseases are at an all time low thanks to more people being vaccinated, saving lives and millions of dollars in health care costs, but this doesn't mean the diseases have disappeared. Many Viruses and bacteria are still circulating.

It is important that we continue to protect our children with vaccines because outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis, mumps, and measles can and do occur in this country. Vaccination is one of the best ways parents can protect infants, children, and teens from 16 potentially harmful diseases.

Show Me Healthy Women (SMHW) offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings for Missouri Women who meet age, income and insurance guidelines

Guidelines for SMHW

• Income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level for household.
• Age 35 to 64, or older if they do not receive Medicare Part B
• No insurance to cover program services

Services Offered:

Screening services

• Clinical breast exams (CBE)
• Screening mammograms for women age 50-64
• Screening mammograms for women 40-49 using donated funds, if available
• Pap tests
• Pelvic exams

Diagnostic services

• Specialist consultation (breast and cervical)
• Diagnostic mammograms
• Ultrasound
• Fine needle aspiration
• Cold knife conization (diagnostic purposes)
• Breast biopsies
• Loop electrode biopsy (LEEP)
• Colposcopy (with or without biopsy)

Cholesterol

Cholesterol Screening is done on Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only. Lipids panel include Triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and Total Cholesterol. A fasting period of 12 hours is required prior to cholesterol screening. The cost for this screening is $20.00.

Hemoglobin/Iron Screening

Hemoglobin Finger sticks are done upon request or along with family planning services on Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only.

LabCorp Blood Draw Screenings

We offer multiple blood draws at low cost for you, no insurance needed! Some offered without a doctors order. Call us to check what blood draws we offer and the cost of each one! We offer this service Monday - Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm by appointments.

Testing for Tuberculosis (TB) is available by appointments at the New Madrid County Health Department. Testing is available on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You must return to the Health Department for results to be determined in 48 to 72 hours after the medication was administered. The coset for this screening is $10.00.

The New Madrid County Health Department provides screening and treatment for the following (STD's) Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and HIV. If you would like to be tested for STD's, please call the Health Department at (573) 748-5541 to set up an appointment. Client must meet certain criteria in order to be tested. Call the New Madrid County Health Department at 573-748-5541 for more information about these screenings.

GONORRHEA

• DEFINITION: Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that is most common in people ages 15 to 30; many of those infected with gonorrhea also have chlamydia. Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium known as Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• SYMPTOMS
  • MALES: Most infected men have symptoms, which can include a milky discharge from the penis and burning sensation upon urination.
  • FEMALES: Most women have no symptoms; if symptoms are present, there is often a vaginal discharge and/or painful urination.
  • MALE/FEMALE: Rectal: itching, pain and discharge with blood or pus. Oral: sore throat, swollen glands.
• TREATMENT: Can cure with antibiotic therapy. If not treated can cause serious health problems.

CHLAMYDIA

• DEFINITION: Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the country. It is caused by a bacterium known as Chlamydia Trachomatis and is often without symptoms. Chlamydia is frequently diagnosed in teenagers and young adults.
• SYMPTOMS
  • MALES: Infected men commonly have no symptoms; if symptoms are present, there is often a watery or milky discharge from the penis and a burning sensation upon urination.
  • FEMALES: Infected women commonly show no symptoms; if symptoms are present, there is most often vaginal discharge and/or bleeding; low abdominal pain and painful urination.
  • MALE/FEMALE: Rectal: Pain, itching and discharge with blood or pus.
• TREATMENT: Can be cured with antibiotic therapy. If not treated can cause serious health problems.

SYPHILIS

• DEFINITION: A sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium known as Treponema pallidum that may be transmitted sexually for from mother to child before or at the time of birth (congenital syphilis)
• SYMPTOMS
  • PRIMARY STAGE: Small painless sore where organism enters the body (genital, oral or rectal); in women the sore may be internal and go unnoticed.
  • SECONDARY STAGE: Rash that can involve the palms and soles of the feet; swollen lymph glands, fever, and painless sores often found in the mouth.
  • LATENT STAGE: Patient does not have symptoms-stage could last for years.
  • LATE STAGE: If left untreated can cause damage to the brain, or heart, blindness and/ or death.
• TREATMENT: Can cure with antibiotic therapy.

The New Madrid County Health Department provides daily blood pressure monitoring and blood sugar screening. No appointment necessary. Simply visit our office during regular business hours to have your blood pressure checked or your blood sugar tested.

Such screenings are used to determine levels of lead in the blood. Follow-up and counseling is provided to children with elevated levels of lead.

What is Lead Poisoning?

A disease caused by swallowing or inhaling lead - even small amounts of chipped lead paint or leaded dust. Lead is most harmful to young children (under 6 years). Why? They put everything into their mouths and their bodies absorb lead more easily than adults. Pregnant women who are exposed to lead are also at risk because the ingested or inhaled lead can cross the placenta and expose the unborn fetus.

What can be done if a child has Lead Poisoning?

Good and frequent hand washing is the best defense against lead poisoning in small children. Since lead must be ingested to cause poisoning, it is vital to keep hands and fingers clean before the child puts them into their mouth. Always wash hands before eating, nap-time, and at bedtime. Severely poisoned children are treated with a medication - chelation therapy - which requires hospitalization. This may reduce the level of lead in the body, but may not completely eliminate it. The most important thing is to prevent exposure or prevent further exposure to lead.

Are you or your child at risk for lead poisoning?

      Answer the following questions?

Does your child...

• have siblings (brothers/sisters) or playmates that have or did have lead poisoning?
• have cousins with whom they visit frequently that have or did have lead poisoning?
• live in or frequently visit a house or daycare built before 1950?
• reside in or visit a house built before 1978 with recent or on-going renovations or remodeling within the last six months?
• eat or mouth non-food items - dirt, starch, clay, ashes, plaster?
• play in soil or reside in a lead smelting area?
• receive unusual medicines or folk remedies?

If the answer to any of the about questions is yes, then a lead test should be done for your child.

Contact the New Madrid County Health Department for more information. (573) 748 -5541.

Pregnancy testing is done on Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only. The cost of a Pregnancy test is $5.00.