children s health issues
Preventive Health Care Visits in Children
Examination
At each visit, several measurements are taken, screening procedures are done, and Childhood Vaccination Schedules are given depending on the schedule. Length and Height and Beginning at age 3, blood pressure is measured at each visit. The doctor also monitors how the child has progressed developmentally (see Childhood Development ) since the last visit. For example, the doctor may want to know whether an 18-month-old child has begun speaking or whether a 6-year-old child has begun reading a few words (see table Finally, the doctor does a complete physical examination. In addition to examining the child from head to toe, including the heart, lungs, abdomen, genitals, spine, arms, legs, head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and teeth, the doctor may ask the child to perform some age-appropriate tasks. To check gross motor skills (such as walking and running), the doctor may ask a 4-year-old child to hop on one foot. To check fine motor skills (manipulating small objects with the hands), the child may be asked to draw a picture or copy some shapes. 