Medical Care and Your 6- to 12-year-old
Regular well-child examinations by your child’s doctor are essential to keep your child healthy and up-to-date with his or her immunizations to prevent many diseases. A checkup also gives your doctor an opportunity to talk to you about developmental and safety issues and gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you might have about your child’s overall health. As your child grows older, he or she can also bring his or her own questions about their health and changing body to the visit.
What Happens at the Doctor’s Office?
At a typical yearly exam, your child’s doctor will weigh and measure your child to make sure she’s progressing along a normal pattern of growth. The doctor will perform a complete physical examination and check your child’s blood pressure. During the visit, your child also may be screened for anemia, blood or protein in the urine, and exposure to tuberculosis, and you may be asked about your family’s history of cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidemia (an excess of cholesterol and/or other fats in the blood).
Your child will also be checked for scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and for signs of puberty. Children who have not had varicella (chickenpox) or received the vaccine previously should be immunized.
Questions your child’s doctor may ask include whether your child is getting enough sleep and exercise, and whether he or she has healthy eating habits. A yearly exam is a good chance for doctors to talk with older children about any questions they have about their sexual development.
In addition, the doctor may instruct your child about the importance of personal care and hygiene to maintain good health. Your doctor will also warn your child against using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, and emphasize safety, including always wearing a bicycle helmet, fastening his or her seat belt, observing water safety guidelines, and avoiding other risky behaviors. Your child’s doctor should also ask about and provide counseling about behavioral issues, learning problems, difficulties at school, and emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. As your child becomes a teenager, your doctor may ask you to leave the room so that he or she can have a more private conversation with your son or daughter. It is an important part of your child moving toward becoming more independent and taking responsibility for their own health.
What Should I Do if I Suspect a Medical Problem?
Parents can usually judge by a variety of symptoms, and their child’s appearance, if their child is sick enough for a visit to the doctor. Some symptoms that may require a doctor’s attention include:
changes in weight or eating habits
changes in behavior or sleep patterns
failure to progress in height or pubertal development as expected
menstrual problems
temperature over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius) that persists or recurs
frequent or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
signs of a skin infection or an unusual or persistent rash
frequent sore throats
persistent cough, wheezing or other breathing problems
localized pain
Typical Medical Problems
Among the typical problems found in this age group are sleep disorders, enuresis (bedwetting), strep throat, and colds. Preteens also may experience sports injuries. Many children also develop stress-related stomachaches or headaches. Although rarely serious, if your child persists in complaining, you should visit your child’s doctor.
Other Articles of Interest
Medical Care and Your 4- to 5-year-old: Regular well-child examinations by your child's doctor are essential to keep your child healthy and up-to-date on immunizations against many dangerous childhood diseases. A checkup
Medical Care and Your 2- to 3-year-old: Regular well-child examinations by your child's doctor are essential to keep your child healthy and up-to-date with immunizations against many dangerous childhood diseases. A checkup
Teen Pregnancy: Teen pregnancy rates in the United States have declined steadily in recent years. More than 60 of every 1000 teenage women gave birth in 1991