Our office is like many other doctors’ offices this month: busy scheduling students, teachers and school staff getting ready to return to school.

Health care is seasonal in some respects. In January some people like to avoid doctor’s visits due to new deductibles on their insurance plans. Visits increase as the winter goes on as a result of cold weather problems such as cold, flu, slips and falls.

During spring, activity picks up due to patients finally realizing that they can put off visits only so long, as well as spring allergies and injuries.

Summer brings its own share of accidental injuries, heat-related problems and regular problems such as headaches, digestive problems and chronic conditions.

As summer ends it is time for everyone involved with school to make their last minute appointments. They suddenly realize that school schedules begin soon and this will make scheduling doctor’s visits more difficult.

In addition some students need clearances for sports participation or other activities.

In our office we’ve seen several young patients coming in about headaches, neck and back pain recently. Parents have realized that their child’s problem has not improved during the past few weeks or months.

Every child has pain from time to time related to bumps and bruises, minor strains, postural issues or other causes. If a problem goes away in a few days it is usually not a reason for concern.

However, if a child or adult has pain or even achiness that is persistent it is important to search for the cause of the symptom. Just taking over-the-counter or prescription medication that covers up the symptoms is not enough.

Pain in your body is often like that dashboard warning light in a car. Pain or other symptoms are our cues that something is wrong.

Although there are plentiful drugs to reduce the pain to the point that we can ignore it, these drugs do not resolve the underlying problem that is causing the pain.

In many cases of minor injury, children experience pain for only a day or two. In these cases their body is going through healing that will resolve the problem that causes pain.

In cases where the pain persists, ignoring the pain or covering it up by taking pain killing drugs is not the best thing to do.

For children with ongoing headaches related to neck or back pain, tension, postural stresses, modern gentle chiropractic care can be very effective. Identifying the spinal cause of the problem can lead to a solution. Spinal checkups are just as important as visits to the dentist and eye doctor.

I recommend that any child that is having headaches, neck or back problems have their spine checked. It is unusual that we are not able to resolve the problems so that the child no longer has to endure the pain or take repetitive doses of pain medications.

Visits with the child’s pediatrician or family physician are important to schedule too. If a child is experiencing medical symptoms that have not resolved a visit to their primary care doctor should be planned before school starts.

Parents should ask their kids about symptoms as well as intentionally observe their habits. Kids from elementary to high school or even college are often very hesitant to mention some symptoms.

As I take a health history from younger kids I am usually rewarded with a straightforward account of their symptoms, when the problem began and other factors that are important to making a diagnosis.

For older kids including high school age students, sometimes the history is like pulling teeth. Their normal teenage personalities affect the way they answer questions. It is not unusual to need to repeat a question in two or three different ways to get a helpful response.

For that reason it is helpful if parents can also contribute by telling me what they have observed about their child in terms of behavior, frequency of complaints, changes in activities or other observations.

Working with a parent and the child creates a team approach that is essential to determining the root cause of symptoms and finding a solution.

Children’s symptoms are important not to ignore or dismiss as “growing pains”. The starting of a new school year is a great time to get to the cause of any ongoing symptoms.