Preventive Care: The key to keeping kids healthy
Children grow up and change quickly. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics has developed comprehensive guidelines for them to receive health screenings and assessments from infancy through adolescence.
Regular checkups, also known as well-child visits, allow children to receive the preventive care they need to stay healthy and prevent medical issues, such as obesity and diabetes, that can affect them when they are adults.
During these visits, a child's pediatrician will perform a physical exam, including screenings for vision, hearing and health issues such as diabetes and obesity. The physician also will provide any needed immunizations, track the child’s growth and development, and discuss issues such as nutrition, exercise and safety.
Some typical preventive care services and screenings for children include:
Advice on nutrition, healthy weight and body mass index
Autism screening
Immunizations
Developmental and behavioral assessment
Hearing and vision testing
Counseling on avoiding tobacco exposure and use
Lead exposure testing and discussion about poison safety
Car and booster seat discussions
A major benefit of well-child visits is disease prevention. Children are most vulnerable when they are born, so it is important to follow their recommended vaccination schedule. Although babies are typically born with strong immune systems and receive some temporary protection through the transmission of antibodies from their mothers, they still need help fighting bacteria, germs and viruses.
The California Department of Public Health requires that children attending transitional kindergarten through 12th grade be vaccinated against nine diseases before starting school. These include diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox). Students starting 7th grade also need a booster dose of the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine.
In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends annual flu and COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone ages 6 months and older. Children with chronic health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, are at greater risk of developing serious flu or COVID-19 complications that can lead to hospitalization and even death. Scheduling annual shots is the most effective way to keep them protected.
Finally, well-child visits are important for parents, too. They provide the opportunity for parents to ask questions, raise concerns and receive personalized care based on each family’s needs. This team approach to care helps children develop optimal physical, mental and social health.
For more information on pediatric preventive care guidelines, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics at aap.org.
