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Natural Awakenings Central Florida / Orlando

My Child is Never Sick: Tips for Prevention with Annual Exams

There are many reasons for your child’s annual physical exam to be ranked as priority #1 each year.  Taking a medical history in person at least once per year is an important part of the prevention and/or early detection and intervention for myriad health conditions.

An Annual Physical Exam Helps with Disease Prevention

American life is busy, and kids suffer most from lack of consistency.  Additionally, separations and divorces, which lead to raising children in multiple households with other partners and caregivers, jeopardizes consistency.  A regular schedule has a huge impact on their physical, mental and emotional health.

A Well-Child Visit is the Time to Quiz Your Pediatrician

Making an appointment for your child’s annual physical exam can be your prompt to write down your top three to five questions to ask your pediatrician.  Here are the many topics to discuss:  growth and development, behavior, sleep concerns, nutrition, eating habits, physical exercise, family dynamics and socialization.  Your pediatrician has a wealth of knowledge and can refer you to trusted professionals (therapists and medical specialists) for specific concerns.

A Child’s Annual Physical Exam Provides a Team Approach

Parenting is not easy!  Team up with your pediatrician to help ensure optimal physical, mental and emotional health for your child.  Annual exams help solidify parent and child relationships.

Screenings About Social Concerns and Trends

Part of a pediatrician’s job is to check in with you and your child about bullying, peer pressure, relationship issues, driving safety and more.  Your pediatrician can bring up topics like vaping, current age-related risk factors and other unhealthy activities that parents may not know much about.  As stated above, your pediatrician can be an ally and a third party who your child may take more seriously. (We all have experienced the phenomenon of our children listening to and accepting a stranger’s advice over our own!)

Many Topics are Covered During a Pediatric Physical Exam

Your pediatrician can recommend further testing or a specialist if any abnormalities are present.

Here’s just a broad overview of what a pediatrician covers during a child’s annual checkup.

·         Physical Body Structure:  Pediatric physicians can detect abnormalities by examining your child’s gait (manner of walking).   They also evaluate and determine if scoliosis is present or if the child experiences low back pain when touching their toes.

·         Physical Examination for Masses:  Your doctor will palpate (examine by touch) many regions of the body to determine if abnormal lumps or swelling are present, which could indicate an injury, infection or cancer.  For example, the groin area (hernia) and the throat (thyroid, lymph nodes and tonsils).

·         Vision and Hearing Examination:  If the eyes are turning in or out, a pediatrician will refer you to a pediatric ophthalmologist.

·         Skin/Scalp Evaluation:  Your doctor will look for dry skin, skin inflammation, seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis.  Excessive bruising may indicate a clotting disorder, which can be ruled out by laboratory studies.

·         Blood Pressure:  If a child’s blood pressure is high, a full workup will be ordered to determine the cause.

·         Lungs:  A doctor will listen for wheezing, or any other abnormal lung sounds that could indicate Reactive Airway Disease. 

·         Blood Work:  Laboratory studies are requested and collected at a child’s annual physical exam and sent to a lab to detect any disease state (i.e., infections).

·         Urinalysis:  Urine is analyzed for the presence of glucose (indicator of diabetes), protein (indicator of kidney disease), or nitrates (indicator of an infection requiring a culture be submitted to determine the bacteria responsible). 

·         Mental Health:  If anxiety is pronounced in your child, your pediatrician may refer you to a clinical psychologist, family therapist or dialectical behavior therapist (if more severe mood disorders are indicated).

Make Your Child’s Annual Checkup Appointment Today!

Regular talks with trusted medical professionals save lives through prevention and early detection. 

The Salt Room Longwood serves all age groups in the Central Florida area with a safe, drug-free therapy proven to be effective for relieving symptoms of many chronic sinus, lung and skin conditions such as allergies, sinus infections, asthma and eczema. Salt therapy is safe!  HEPA/carbon filters and UV light kill 99% of all airborne and surface bacteria and viruses. To schedule a salt therapy session, call 407-862-1163 or visit www.SaltRoomLongwood.com.

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