 Managing
your health, and the health of your child, means putting prevention
into practice.
The third in the series of preventive care guides to help you
manage your health and the health of your loved ones, Managing
Your Health: Child Health Guide presents important information
on preventive care for children - such as checkup visits, immunizations,
and tests and exams.
Use
your PersonalMD Medical Record to help track your childs
preventive care and to know when this care is needed.
Checkup
Visits
Checkup visits are important because they allow your health
care provider to review your child's growth and development,
perform tests or give shots. To help your provider get a complete
picture of your child's health status, be sure to bring your
child's health record and a list of any medications your child
is taking to each visit.
Checkup visits are a time for parents to ask questions. Bring
a list of concerns you have. For example, my child is not sleeping
through the night yet, I don't think my child is eating enough,
or my child seems uncoordinated and is always walking into things.
Some
authorities recommend checkup visits at the following ages 2-4
weeks; 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10,
12, 14, 16 and 18 years.
Some
children may need to be seen more often, others less. Ask your
clinician how often your child will need to be seen.
Immunizations
Your
child needs immunizations. Immunizations (shots) protect your
child from many serious diseases. Below is a list of immunizations
and the ages when your child should receive them.
 Immunizations
should be given at the recommended ageseven if your child has
a cold or illness at the time. Ask your health care provider
about when your child should receive these important shots.
Ask also if your child needs other immunizations.
-
Polio
(IPV): At 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years.
-
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
(DTaP, DTP): At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months,
and 4-6 years.
-
Tetanus-Diphtheria
(Td): At 11-16 years.
-
Measles-Mumps-Rubella
(MMR): At 12-15 months, and either 4-6 years OR 11-12 years.
-
Haemophilus
influenzae type b (Hib): At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months,
and 12-15 months; OR 2 months, 4 months, and 12-15 months
depending on the vaccine type.
-
Hepatitis
B (HBV): At birth-2 months, 1-4 months, and 6-18 months.
-
Chickenpox
(VZV): At 1-12 years.
Tests
and Exams
Newborn
Screening
These
blood tests should be done before your baby is 7 days old. They
are usually done just before your baby leaves the hospital.
If the blood tests were done earlier than 24 hours after birth,
a repeat test at 1 to 2 weeks of age is recommended. Common
newborn screening tests include those for PKU, thyroid, and
sickle cell disease.
Blood
Pressure
Your
child should have blood pressure measurements regularly, starting
at around 3 years of age. High blood pressure in children needs
medical attention. It may be a sign of underlying disease and,
if not treated, may lead to serious illness. Check with your
child's health care provider about blood pressure measurements.
Lead
| Lead
Poisoning Risk Assessment |
| Answer
the questions below. Any "yes" answers may mean that
your child needs lead tests earlier and more often
than other children. |
|
Has
your child:
- Lived
in or regularly visited a house built before 1950?
(This could include a day care center, preschool,
the home of a babysitter or relative, etc.)
- Lived
in or regularly visited a house built before 1978
(the year lead-based paint was banned for residential
use) with recent, ongoing, or planned renovation
or remodeling?
- Had
a brother or sister, housemate, or playmate followed
or treated for lead poisoning?
|
|
Lead
can harm your child, slowing physical and mental growth and
damaging many parts of the body. The most common way children
get lead poisoning is by being around old house paint that is
chipping or peeling. Some authorities recommend lead tests at
1 and 2 years of age.
Vision
and Hearing
Your child's vision should be tested before starting school,
at about 3 or 4 years of age. Your child may also need vision
tests as he or she grows. Some authorities recommend hearing
testing beginning at 3 to 4 years of age.
If at any age your child has any of the vision or hearing warning
signs listed below, be sure to talk with your health care provider.
Vision
Warning Signs
-
Eyes turning inward (crossing) or outward
-
-
-
Not
doing as well in school work as before
-
Blurred
or double vision Hearing Warning Signs
-
Poor
response to noise or voice
-
Slow
language and speech development
-
Special
Warning: Listening to very loud music, especially with earphones,
can permanently damage your child's hearing.
Additional
Tests
Your
child may need other tests to prevent health problems. Some common
tests are:
- Anemia
(Blood) Test. Your child may need to be tested for anemia ("low
blood") when he or she is still a baby (usually around the first
birthday). Children may also need this test as they get older.
Some children are more likely to get anemia. Ask your health care
provider about anemia testing.
- Cholesterol
(Blood) Test. Children (2 years and older) may need this test
especially if they have a parent with high cholesterol or a parent
or grandparent with heart disease before age 55. If a family history
is not available, testing may be needed if your child is obese
or has high blood pressure.
- Tuberculosis
(TB) Skin Test. Children may need this test if they have had close
contact with a person who has TB, live in an area where TB is
more common than average (such as a Native American reservation,
a homeless shelter or an institution) or have recently moved from
Asia, Africa, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, or
the Pacific Islands.
Source:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), formerly the
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)
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