A well-child check-up is a routine health exam that all children should have by their first birthday. It is an opportunity to see if your child is developing normally and learning new skills, like feeding, walking, and talking. The visit also allows you to discuss concerns about your child’s health. A Bastrop well child exams may include;
- Physical exams
Physical exams are performed when children are between the ages of newborn and 18 months. Your child’s physician will examine your child’s head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat to look for signs of illness or injury. The doctor may also check your child’s weight and listen to their heart.
- Development exams
Development exams can be performed when children are between 18 months and five years old. Your child’s physician will check your child’s motor skills, language development, and speech and social skills at this visit. You will be asked to complete a parent questionnaire that helps the doctor evaluate your child’s growth and development over time.
- Immunizations
Your child’s immunization history will be reviewed so that you can discuss any concerns you have about vaccines. This is an opportunity to ask questions about vaccines that you may not know about.
- Screening tests
Screening tests do not diagnose disease but can detect problems early on before they become more serious. Screening tests include hearing test audiometry, vision screening visual acuity, and blood pressure screening (BP screening).
- High Blood Pressure (hypertension)
You should get a well-child check-up at birth, six months, and 18 months. Your doctor will check your blood pressure, height and weight, eyesight and hearing, heart rate, and growth and development.
High blood pressure is diagnosed by taking your blood pressure twice during one day when you are resting quietly in a seated position. A person may have high blood pressure if they have two readings of 140/90 mmHg or above. This is called stage 1 or 2 hypertension. If they have one reading around 120/80 mmHg or above, that is stage 3 hypertension. If one has both readings over 130/80 mmHg, that is stage 4 hypertension.
- Height and weight
The doctor will evaluate your child’s growth and development during this appointment. In addition to checking for signs of malnutrition or illness, they will also check for any physical problems contributing to poor growth or development.
- Dental care
Your child’s dentist will assess their oral health during the well-child visit by performing routine exams such as taking x-rays of your child’s mouth and looking at their teeth with an oral probe. A thorough dental exam can help detect potential problems before they become serious issues.
Well-child check-ups are useful to monitor your child’s health and help prevent any illness in the future. Parents can take advantage of this situation to know how to handle their kids when a disease or other health problem occurs. There are enough reasons for you to organize well-child check-ups with Pompeyo C Chavez, MD, at least once a year.