Well-care and physical exams necessary, encouraged for children
Parents often ask if their child still needs a well-care or physical exam if their immunizations are up-to-date.
The answer is yes, and there are several reasons that it is important to have an annual well care exam. For example, physicians can identify problems early and prevent chronic illness. It allows for parent education to promote healthy habits, anticipatory guidance related to the next developmental milestones related to age of the child, education and promotion of the importance of vaccinations, and providing vaccines if needed and parents are agreeable.
The well-care exam also allows for early identification of possible chronic medical conditions such as asthma, ADHD, anxiety, migraines, childhood obesity, high cholesterol, or early onset diabetes, among others. The visit also offers a time for parents and children/teens to ask questions related to their concerns.
Early diagnosis can help providers to begin treatment before there are complications and comorbidities related to untreated chronic medical illnesses. With the increase in childhood obesity, we are seeing an increase in childhood lipidemia, hypertension and diabetes.
Rates of anxiety and depression are also rising among children, so this also allows us to be proactive instead of reactive. The earlier we start treatment, the less likely there will be complications from these chronic illnesses, which increases the child’s chances of recovery and stability.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends an annual well-child exam/physical exam every year starting at the age of three, including height and weight with a body mass index (BMI).
Other recommendations include an annual blood pressure screening annually starting at age three and at every visit for high-risk patients, vision and hearing screenings annually or every two years for school-aged children, a risk assessment for sudden cardiac arrest and death from ages 11-21, a universal screening for dyslipidemia with a lipid profile once between ages 9-11, and a screening for anxiety/depression beginning at age 12. (Source: AAP)
If your child has not had a well child/physical exam in over a year, make time to call your primary care provider and schedule their exam.
