Annual Checkups

Annual checkups offer a wide range of benefits for children including identifying developmental problems early, protecting the child from diseases, and tracking the child’s growth. The checkup presents a good opportunity for the parent to seek clarification on daily routines such as sleeping patterns and eating habits. The experienced family doctor, Dr. Kyle Scarborough MD will cover these things during the checkup including vital signs, physical examination, immunizations, discussions and measurement, and all crucial pointers to how a child is doing. Annual checkups are an essential part of preventive medical care and parents should make it a priority in the household.

Checkup Schedule

The American Academy of Pediatrics designed a comprehensible schedule that can guide parents, making scheduling checks easier, and help them keep up with the children’s general health exams. A baby should be seen 3 to 5 days after birth, and then 1,2,4,6,9, and 12 months after. Toddlers should then be checked after 15,18,24, and 30 months thereafter until they reach the age of three. By the time they are three years of age, the child can see a doctor every year without a problem. Parents who lost track of their children’s appointment can contact the renowned family doctor, Dr. Kyle Scarborough and find out when their child is next due for a well check exam. An experienced doctor will be more than happy to set up a new appointment and go over the child’s vaccination schedule.

Vital Signs

The first thing that will be done is collecting the child’s vital signs like the oxygen level, heart rate, and temperature. This will either be carried out by a nurse, medical assistant or a doctor. Vital signs reveal the condition of the body and indicate what operating level it’s working at. If the results fall outside of what’s expected for a child of that age, an expert family doctor, like Dr. Kyle Scarborough will be able to tell what the problem is before proceeding the exam.

Measurements

The child’s weight and height measurements will be taken to determine their body mass index (BMI) which will indicate whether the child is growing at a normal growth curve or if they have a problem. During the appointment, the parent will be shown the child’s percentile data for weight, height and head circumference compared to that of their peers.

Discussion and Examination

The child’s health is a team effort between the parent and the doctor. Thus, the doctor will take time to discuss his/her findings with the parent, explaining what is not understood and prescribing solutions. The parent will also be asked a lot of questions regarding the child’s growth and general health, after which the physical exam will take place. The child’s lungs, eyes, ears, and skin, among others will be checked. Any concerns raised by the parent will also be evaluated during the physical exam. Lastly, any necessary vaccinations will be carried out to safeguard the child from numerous childhood diseases like mumps and measles.

Conclusion

Well checks are not only essential for a child’s health, but they also give them a chance to interact with doctors and nurses and get used to them. Many parents assume that well checks aren’t necessary unless the child falls sick, but the fact of the matter is yearly checkups are crucial to helping the child lead a healthy, happy life.