Moldovan doctor warns against unprescribed back-to-school vitamins

Parents should seek targeted medical checks rather than blanket clinical screenings as children return to classrooms across Moldova, family medicine specialists advised on public television, emphasizing posture, vision, and symptom monitoring.

The start of the academic year represents an opportune window to observe physiological and behavioural changes that developed over the summer. However, universal annual consultations are not mandatory for every pupil unless specific warning signs emerge.

Monitoring posture and early warning signs

“Parents should observe posture, growth spurts, speech patterns, sleep disruptions, reading habits, and hearing clarity,” said family physician Rodica Ceavdari during an interview on Moldova 1’s morning show.

Alongside primary care physicians, ophthalmologists, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists, and orthopaedists play crucial roles during developmental stages. Undetected visual or auditory deficits directly impair learning capacity, while uncorrected postural deviations can trigger long-term spinal complications.

Adolescents may also require adolescent gynaecological or urological assessments when indicated. Physicians stress that laboratory tests and specialised screenings must be dictated by distinct clinical concerns rather than calendar dates.

Physical endurance serves as another critical indicator. Unusual exhaustion during sports, prolonged recovery times, or complaints of heart palpitations require prompt medical evaluation.

Interpreting lab work and avoiding self-medication

Chronic fatigue, persistent irritability, hair thinning, and erratic appetite also warrant blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC). However, practitioners caution parents against reviewing lab sheets independently.

Reference intervals frequently differ between testing facilities, making medical guidance necessary to evaluate whether a result is clinically meaningful or within standard parameters.

Classroom returns also coincide with an uptick in seasonal viral infections. Children exhibiting rhinitis, nasal congestion, hoarseness, or pronounced lethargy should stay home to prevent classroom contagion.

“The family physician should be notified within the first forty-eight hours,” Ceavdari noted. “Remote monitoring should last a maximum of three days if symptoms do not worsen.”

Medical experts also cautioned against administering over-the-counter dietary supplements and immunity boosters without a physician's prescription. Balanced nutrition, daily physical exercise, and sufficient outdoor activity remain the most reliable drivers of healthy classroom reintegration.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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Moldovan doctor warns against unprescribed back-to-school vitamins

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