Without symptoms of disease, children generally do not need many laboratory screening tests. Preventive services for children emphasize immunizations (to protect against about a dozen serious diseases) and ways to prevent accidents, injuries, and even serious sunburns. A routine checkup also is an opportunity to learn how a child’s eating habits and activity choices can protect against obesity,
diabetes, skin cancer, and even
heart disease.
In early childhood (ages 2 to 6), exams at ages 3, 4, and 5 help accomplish the recommended screenings and preventive services:
Height, weight, vision, and hearing need to be regularly checked; blood pressure after age 3 (earlier if risk factors are identified).
The schedule of routine childhood immunizations continues. Children with greater risk receive additional vaccines, as appropriate.
If the health care provider identifies risk factors, appropriate screening tests will be ordered.
Children need a health exam between ages 7 and 9 and another at age 12:
Blood pressure, height, weight, vision, and hearing need to be checked.
Vaccinations are updated. Children at risk receive additional immunizations, as appropriate.
If the health care provider identifies risk factors, appropriate screening tests will be ordered.
For more information on preventive medicine and steps you can take to keep you and your family healthy, read Staying Healthy in an Era of Patient Responsibility.
Sources
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine. Recommendations for Preventative Pediatric Health Care (policy statement). 2000 March 1. Pediatrics. 105(3):645-646. Available on the Internet at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;105/3/645. Accessed August 24, 2004.
American Academy of Family Physicians. Preventive services for healthy living. 2003 Mar (review/update). Available on the Internet at http://www.familydoctor.org/x1548.xml. Accessed August 25, 2004.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program, United States Department of Health and Human Services. Parents guide to childhood immunization. Available on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/nip. Accessed August 24, 2004.
Green M and Palfrey JS. Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, Pocket Guide (2nd ed.). 2002. American Academy of Family Physicians. Available on the Internet at http://www.brightfutures.org/pocket/index.html. Accessed August 26, 2004.
National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. The fourth report on the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2004 Aug;114:555-576. Available on the Internet at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org. Accessed August 26, 2004.
