[Medical Q&A] How to conduct physical examinations based on children’s growth patterns?

Author: Xiao Dingliang Hunan Children's Hospital

Reviewer: Cai Zili, deputy chief physician, Hunan Children's Hospital

It is crucial to conduct physical examinations scientifically based on the growth patterns of children. This physical examination schedule will help parents protect their children's health.

1. Before the age of six months, the baby should have a physical examination once a month. The focus of this stage is on physical development, neurological development, oral health, audio-visual examination, and screening for congenital developmental abnormalities. For babies with high-risk factors, blood tests are also essential.

2. Physical examination every 2 months from 6 months to 1 year old: In addition to routine growth and development assessments, special attention should be paid to the intake of complementary foods and important nutrients, such as insufficient iron, calcium, and vitamin D, and attention should also be paid to allergies.

3. For children aged 1 to 2 years, have a physical examination every 3 months; for children aged 2 to 3 years, have a physical examination every 6 months: During this stage, it is important to understand whether the child's growth and development has deviated. A full physical examination, as well as examinations of the mouth, eyes, ears, and nose, should be conducted to promptly detect diseases such as developmental delay and autism. At the same time, screening for diseases such as iron deficiency anemia and vitamin D deficiency is still required.

4. After the age of 3, physical examinations should be conducted once a year: preschool children can complete blood lead and hepatitis B five-item examinations on the basis of routine examinations; pay attention to vision and hearing screening and oral health care. During school age, attention should be paid to changes in nutrition, psychology and behavior. During adolescence, attention should be paid to physiological development, psychological behavior, as well as obesity, precocious puberty, short stature, malnutrition and other diseases.

Regular, standardized, and comprehensive physical examinations are an important means to ensure the healthy growth of children. Physical examinations are not only to measure height and weight, but also to prevent, detect, and intervene in diseases early, so that children can grow up healthily. Let's protect every stage of children's growth together!