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BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO THE
DOCTOR
By, Dr. Bhumi Upadhyay,
Northeast Pediatrics
Summertime has just begun and again it
is time to think about getting physicals for the upcoming school
year or summer camps. Physicals are an important part of your
child’s health maintenance starting from birth. After 2 years
old, your doctor may only see your child once a year so it is
important to get examined and educated about their health and well
being. Your doctor will monitor how your child grows and
develops. First, your doctor will see your baby in the hospital
after birth and again within 2 days after discharge. Then there
will be regularly scheduled visits at 2 weeks old, 1 month, 2
months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18
months, and 2 years old and then yearly.
The first part of the well visit is
the doctor asking you about your child’s development. The doctor
will ask you a series of questions of what your child is able to
do. The areas of development include fine and gross motor skill,
language and social development. Each area is assessed
individually. The doctor will discuss if there appears to be a
delay in any area. Please do not worry if your child does not do
some of the things discussed. Each child develops at a different
rate and the assessment is only to catch delays that are out of
the ordinary.
The second part of a physical is the
exam in which your doctor will thoroughly check for any
abnormalities in growth or development. A hearing and vision
screen should be done starting at 3-4 years old, if not sooner.
In infants, the weight, height, and the head growth are monitored
closely. In older children, abnormalities such as scoliosis or
high blood pressure may not be found unless a yearly exam is done.
The third part of the physical entails
the plan and anticipatory guidance. The plan depends on the
history obtained and the exam. There are scheduled vaccines and
boosters with some of the visits. In addition, routine lab work
will be done when indicated, along with any other the doctor feels
is necessary. The guidance portion is very vital to the
physical. This is where your doctor will discuss safety issues at
appropriate ages. Following is an example of few of the things
discussed. Car safety, importance of parents to know CPR, infant
safety (baby proofing your house, choking hazards, poisons),
pool/water safety, sports injury prevention, fire safety,
sunscreen and other heat injury prevention, gun safety. Other
topics that will be discussed are what to anticipate your child
will be doing in the next few months and how to keep them safe as
they learn new things, discipline and behavior, dental hygiene.
Nutrition, sleeping habits, parental concerns will be addressed at
every well child visit also. Reading, reading, reading to or with
your child is always emphasized for development!!
Remember, enjoy your summer, be
safe-sunscreen, bike helmets, insect repellent, pool and beach
safety, etc. However, start preparing for the new school year by
calling to schedule your physicals!!
Dr. Bhumi Upadhyay, a Board
Certified Pediatrician and active member of the American Academy
of Pediatrics, graduated from the University of Miami six year
Honors Program in Medicine. She completed her residency at The
Childrens Hospital of Michigan and has been practicing in the
Tampa bay area for five years. Northeast Pediatrics is a new
solo pediatric practice, which opened on November 1st 2005. Our
mission is to provide personal pediatric care to families of our
community. We are accepting new
patients please call to get to know the doctor 526-PEDS.
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