Parents know who they should go to when their child is sick. But Annual Physical Exams for Kids are just as important for healthy children.
The benefits of Primary Care Annual Exam for Minors
Regularly scheduled checkups, often referred to as Annual Physical Exam for Kids, begin shortly after birth and last through the teen-age years. All Inclusive Care doctors follow the American Academy of Pediatric (AAP) Guidelines on well-child visits.
The following tests will be performed in accordance with AAP guidelines:
Hemoglobin Levels: This test is done between 9 and 12 months of age. The hemoglobin test is primarily used to detect various types of anemia, a common condition that occurs when the amount of healthy red blood cells in a person's blood is too low.
Lead Levels: This test is also typically done between 9 and 12 months of age depending upon your child's risk factors.
PPD Test: The PPD is a skin test to check whether your child has been exposed to tuberculosis (TB). We will only conduct this test if your child has specific risk factors
Developmental Delay Testing: The AAP recommends that all children be screened for developmental delays and disabilities at 9 months, 18 months and 24 or 30 months. Developmental screening is a short test to tell if your child is learning basic skills when they should, or whether there are delays. During these tests, we are looking for signs of autism, intellectual disability, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, among others.
Urinalysis: We conduct urinalysis between the ages of 4 and 5 years, to look for abnormalities that may reflect an underlying kidney problem.
Hearing and Vision Tests: These tests are conducted between the ages of 4 and 5.
Yearly checkups are very important for your growing children.When it comes to helping your child to live a happy, healthy life, yearly checkups are crucial. Unfortunately, many parents avoid taking their children to the doctor if they aren’t sick, which actually causes problems in the long run. Bringing your child in for regular exams helps doctors to understand what is normal for your child, so that illnesses can be diagnosed easily. Here is an explanation of what to expect during your child’s next well check, why these appointments are important, and when to schedule your child's next Annual Physical Exam Kids.
Although some parents assume that well checks aren’t really necessary, the fact of the matter is that well checks are designed to keep your child healthy. Here is what to expect when you bring your child in for a well check:
Before you and your child visit with the doctor, a nurse or medical assistant will collect your child’s vital signs. They will wear a small, painless plastic device on their finger to measure their oxygen level, and their heart rate and temperature will be checked.
Your child will also be weighed and measured during the appointment to determine their body mass index (BMI). These measurements are used to determine if your child is a healthy height and weight, and to see if they are following a normal growth curve.
Your child’s health is a team effort between parents and their doctors, which is why the first thing your child’s pediatrician will do is talk with you about your concerns. Doctors will ask if you have any questions about their growth or concerns about their health.
One of the most crucial things that will happen during your child’s well check is immunizations. Immunizations are essential for safeguarding your child from a long list of serious childhood diseases, including mumps, measles, polio, rotavirus, and many others.
Next, your child’s pediatrician will conduct a thorough head-to-toe examination of your child. Your child’s:
Will be checked during their Annual Physical Exam for Kids. If you have raised concerns about their health, the doctor will carefully evaluate those areas of your child’s body to check for problems.
Yearly checkups offer a wide range of benefits, including protecting your child from illnesses, spotting developmental problems early, and tracking your child’s growth. During well checks, parents will also have the opportunity to talk with their child’s doctor about eating and sleeping patterns, so that they can get tips that could improve their child’s daily routine. Annual Physical Exam Kids are essential preventive medical care appointments that parents should make a point never to miss
Check your child's weight and height, calculate body mass index (BMI), and plot the measurements on a growth chart.
Check your child's blood pressure and vision using standard testing equipment. Hearing may be checked.
Do a screening test to check for mental health.
Do a physical exam. This will include looking at the skin, listening to the heart and lungs, and checking the back for any curvature of the spine.
Update immunizations. Immunizations can protect kids from serious childhood illnesses, so it's important that your child get them on time.
Order tests. Your doctor may check for anemia, high cholesterol, and order tests, if needed.
There really is no right or wrong time to book a check-up for your child. Each family's circumstances and needs determine when to schedule the appointment. Some families schedule at the start or end of the school year.
Other people schedule around flu season to get timely immunizations, or during vacations to avoid missing school.
Whenever you choose to schedule your child's annual exam, make it a time that is easy to remember and that does not conflict with meal times, nap times, or play times.
