Camden County Health Department, Camdenton, Missouri

09/27/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

Tomorrow is World Alzheimer's Day. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Did you know that more than 55 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer's and other dementias, with Alzheimer's accounting for nearly 80% of cases?
The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering newly learned information. The Alzheimer's Association is the trusted resource for reliable information, education, referral and support to millions of people affected by the disease.

Call their 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900.

09/20/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

Our next health topic is Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib), which is a heart condition where the upper heart chambers quiver instead of beating effectively, increasing the risk of blood clots and stroke. It is estimated that 30-60% of people with AFib are undiagnosed.

Some people with AFib don’t have symptoms. But if you do have symptoms, you may notice:
❤️ Fast, irregular heartbeat
❤️ Heart palpitations
(rapid “flopping” or “fluttering” feeling in the chest)
❤️ Feeling lightheaded or faint
❤️ Chest pain or pressure
❤️ Shortness of breath, especially when lying down
❤️ Tiring more easily

Speak to your doctor if you have noticed these symptoms or have a family history of cardiac disease.

09/17/2025

Flu can be wild, but a flu vaccine can help tame severe symptoms, reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death. to help 💉

09/13/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

September is an awareness month for several health topics, but for today, we want to focus on cholesterol!
Did you know that your body actually creates all of the cholesterol it needs by itself? That means that any extra cholesterol that you consume with your diet can possibly lead to a build-up of plaque in your arteries. This excess plaque can cause a decreased blood flow to your heart and other organs. When blood flow to the heart is blocked- it can lead to a heart attack.
Your doctor can order blood tests to check your cholesterol levels.

09/06/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

Hepatitis A is a liver infection that is caused by the Hepatitis A virus, or HAV. This virus can be transmitted by: people who don't properly wash their hands after using the restroom and touching food or other surfaces, consuming contaminated water or food, or even sexual contact with a person who is infected.
Symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and abdominal pain, although people can be contagious before symptoms start.

The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated! Speak to your doctor to see if the Hepatitis A vaccine is right for you, then give us a call to schedule! 📱

08/30/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

On July 31, the CDC shared new data on kindergarten vaccination rates for the 2024–25 school year. Fewer kids got their shots compared to last year. Nationally, around 92% of kindergarteners were up to date on vaccines like DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), and polio — but rates vary a lot by state. In Idaho, more than 1 in 5 kindergarteners didn’t have records showing they got both MMR shots, while in Connecticut, it was less than 2%. More than half of states saw drops in coverage for MMR, DTaP, polio, and chickenpox vaccines. Across the country, about 286,000 kindergarteners had no record of completing their MMR shots.

08/23/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

Did you know that there are over 200 types of mosquitos in the United States? And over a dozen of them can spread West Nile, Zika and chikungunya to people according to the CDC.

🐜Before you spend any time outside, make sure you are applying an insect repellent containing DEET to your skin and clothing. Buying a product with 10% DEET offers protection for up to two hours, while products with 30% DEET are effective for about five hours. It also helps to wear lighter colors to see any insects easier!

🌿A natural method for keeping mosquitoes at bay is using plants that repel them. Basil, catnip, lemon balm and rosemary are possible pet-safe additions to your yard or garden. Although some people use citronella candles and oils to try to keep mosquitoes away, the citronella plant – a lemon-scented grass – is toxic to pets.

08/16/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

As we head back to school next week, we want to prioritize our children's safety! Here are a few things to make sure your kids are aware of:

☎️ If your student is new to school, make sure they know their phone number, address and how to dial 911

❌ Don't put your child's name on the front of their backpack. Children are more likely to trust a stranger if they know the child's name

🚗 Always use a crosswalk and make sure that your teen drivers remember "Buckle Up, Phone Down!"

Lets make this year the best year yet!

08/09/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

Alpha-gal Syndrome is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergy to Alpha-gal that can develop after a tick bite. Alpha-gal is a molecule found in most mammals, such as cows and pigs, as well as the saliva of some ticks. When an infected tick bites a person, they can transmit the Alpha-gal into the bloodstream. The body's immune system then attacks the Alpha-gal molecule which triggers an allergic reaction.
While Alpha-gal Syndrome is not a reportable disease, there are an estimated 450,000 cases in the United States. Symptoms can vary from rashes or hives, stomach pain, nausea or diarrhea that occur 3-6 hours after eating mammal meat. Speak to your primary care doctor if you experience these symptoms or have had any tick bites recently!

08/02/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

This may sound a bit boring, but by far, the #1 tip when dealing with snakes, is to LEAVE SNAKES ALONE. Almost all cases of snake bites, a reported 99%, occur when people attempt to catch, pick up, or kill snakes.
Keep your yard mowed and free of debris, snakes love places to hide! Also, don’t pick up any snakes, even if it appears to be dead. Snakes retain their bite reflex up to one hour after death. 🐍
If you do get bitten, be sure to keep the area below your heart and remove any jewelry or restrictive items. Note the time of the bite and contact emergency services as soon as possible!

07/26/2025

SAFETY SATURDAY

Hepatitis C is one of the most common types of hepatitis, with more than 2.4 million infections between 2017 and 2020 alone. A little more than half of these cases were associated with injectable drug use. It is spread by blood-to-blood contact, so sharing utensils, kissing, and coughing or sneezing is highly unlikely to share the virus.

Some symptoms can include; dark urine, clay-colored stools, fatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting and yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Untreated Hepatitis C can lead to liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer or even death. Speak to your doctor about testing for Hepatitis C! While there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C, proper treatment can cure more than 95% of patients.

07/25/2025

Thank you to all of you have already completed the WIC Satisfaction Survey! The survey has been extended for a short time. If you are a WIC participant, please take a moment to let your voice be heard! https://moexperience.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2lvH9E8b7vPI898?fbclid=IwY2xjawLwuodleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFsOUs4aERaQUxDQTZZWHRwAR7y7xcXI6yp_NDbzmAX8DCCD0gAGn6rxF5XXnJ1783ZID6oMG_ojlM0rAJohQ_aem_1RxNngAwpM8h4RiNWLacYQ

!!Attention WIC Participants!!

Missouri WIC wants to hear from you! Let your voice be heard!

Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the 2025 WIC Participant Satisfaction Survey. Your feedback will help Missouri WIC improve the services they provide you.

Please click the link below to access the survey. This survey will be active until July 31.

https://moexperience.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2lvH9E8b7vPI898