Back to school is filled with many things you have to attend to no matter what grade your child is in. Of all the things, it is important to include a visit to the pediatrician for your child's annual physical examinations. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)recommends that all children, in their early childhood, tween, or teenage years, get the required health care, monitoring and examination through a well-formulated and consistent family-centered medical home.New Beginnings Pediatrics in Blacksburg Va. knows that annual back to school physicals are an important part of maintaining your child’s health and well-being for strong development and growth. Why Schedule A Physical For Your Child?
Annual physical examinations enable the parents to know what has changed with their children in the previous academic year. It becomes possible to monitor your child's growth, development and overall health, helping prevent and potential health issues in the future.Covid-19 presented some unprecedented challenges, especially for our school-aged children. Physicals are important in ensuring the safety and health of your child while in school. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), annual physicals ensure that children have the latest vaccines to curb the spread of diseases.An annual physical exam can also help safeguard your child against further injuries by determining whether he or she is fit enough to play a particular sport. Although they are different from sports-specific physicals, annual back-to-school physicals compliment the former in ensuring that your child is healthy to play.What Does A Pediatrician Look For?
A basic back to school annual physical, depending on your child's age and the pediatrician, looks for:- A routine physical check for height, weight, blood pressure, heartbeat rate, sugar levels and general physical maturity. The pediatrician will also examine the heart, lungs, nose, teeth, ears, nose, abdomen, skin and screen for diseases like hernia and scoliosis.
- Behavioral and intellectual nurturing are other things that pediatricians concentrate on during back-to-school physicals. The pediatrician might ask the child some questions, assess his motor and language skills, and scan for depression, sexual activity and drug abuse if your child is a teenager or an adolescent.
- Medical history to establish any cases of chronic and genetic illnesses and conditions like allergies, asthma, cancer or diabetes.
- Preventative screening for chronic diseases and providing the right treatment while it's still early enough. Blood and skin tests might be ordered. Your pediatrician can also talk to your child about alcohol and drug abuse, sex and their effects.
