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Only 25 percent of parents have taken their children to a podiatrist for foot ailments
TOMS RIVER, NJ, MAY 15, 2008 – Warts, ingrown toenails and foot pain bring thousands of adults to doctor’s offices every day. But according to new survey results released by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), many of those same health-conscious parents don’t have a high standard of foot health when it comes to the feet of their children. In fact, only 25 percent of parents have taken their children to a podiatrist for treatment of foot ailments.
The survey, taken from a group of 620 parents with children under the age of 18, found that 35 percent of those surveyed would not be motivated to take their child to a medical professional if their child complained of foot or leg pain. Furthermore, only 49 percent of parents surveyed would take their child to a podiatrist’s office for ingrown toenails – which, if left untreated, can lead to significant pain and a loss in normal activity.
“Most of the pathology seen in a child’s foot is very often easily resolved,” said Gerald Mauriello, Jr., DPM, foot and ankle surgeon with the Garden State Foot and Ankle Group. “That is, if the problem is identified promptly and treated in the appropriate manner.”
When parents do choose to bring their child to a professional to resolve foot problems, nearly 48 percent of parents said their child was treated by a professional other than a foot specialist – a podiatrist. An APMA member podiatrist frequently diagnoses and treats all types of pediatric foot conditions, including broken bones, cuts and abrasions, in-toeing, flat feet and skin conditions such as athlete’s foot and warts, among others.
One of the reasons that parents may not be attentive enough to their children’s foot care is a lack of understanding of many key foot ailments. Just two out of every 10 sets of parents surveyed said they have dealt with sports injuries affecting their children’s feet. Even fewer (10 percent) said they have had to attend to potentially infectious warts. To view more pediatric foot health survey findings, visit www.apma.org/pediatrics.
To find a physician affiliated with Community Medical Center, call the LINK at 1-888-SBHS-123.
Contact: Kristine A. Brown
(732) 557-3902
krbrown@sbhcs.com
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