10 doctors that a child should definitely visit once a year

A preventive medical examination of a child (and this is medical examination) is a comprehensive examination of the child’s health and development, for the purpose of prevention and early diagnosis of various diseases (which significantly increases the success of treatment).
Is it possible to refuse?

Yes. You can refuse the medical examination completely or a number of procedures that are included in the medical examination. But when making a decision to refuse, you are actually making a decision not for yourself, but for the child, who cannot yet decide for himself, including in matters of maintaining health.

Clinical examination

Children's medical examination is a planned event aimed at a comprehensive examination of the child's health, identifying possible diseases and pathologies. Doctors evaluate his physical and neuropsychic development, identify predisposition to certain diseases and prescribe prevention.

In some cases, medical examination is mandatory, for example, for admission to kindergarten and secondary school.

Routine examinations of the child by doctors at 4 and 5 years of age

Preschoolers exhibit increased activity, curiosity, confidence in independence, and a desire to communicate with peers. This age is characterized by traumatic injuries and diseases caused by bacterial infections.

Taking this into account, in accordance with Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 514N, children 4 and 5 years old undergo routine examinations by a pediatric surgeon and pediatrician as part of medical examination. Source: Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated August 10, 2021 N 514N “On the Procedure for Conducting Preventive Medical Examinations” minors" With changes and additions from: July 3, 2018, June 13, 2021

Surgeon

By the age of 4, a child normally has fully formed all the natural curves of the spine. The doctor evaluates their anatomy and identifies signs of postural disorders.

By the age of 5, the arch of the foot is normally formed. The doctor can deny or confirm the presence of flat feet.

Pediatrician

4-5 years - average kindergarten age. The child adheres to a certain daily routine and diet. This allows one to assess the dynamics of the functioning of his digestive and nervous systems. Close communication with peers in a children's group has an impact on the immune system. The doctor, through a survey, examination and medical history, assesses their functional state. In addition, he takes anthropometric measurements to assess the child’s physical development. According to WHO, the norms for 4-5 year old children are:

• height of 4 year old boys – 99.1-107.5 cm;
• height of girls 4 years old –98.4-107 cm;
• weight of 4 year old boys – 14.4-18.6 kg;
• weight of girls 4 years old – 14-18.5 kg;
• height of boys 5 years old – 105.3-114.6 cm;
• height of girls 5 years old – 104.7-114.2 cm;
• weight of boys 5 years old – 16-21 kg;
• weight of girls 5 years old is 15.8-21.2 kg.

If necessary, the pediatrician prescribes additional examinations and consultations with highly specialized specialists.

Sources:

1. Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated August 10, 2021 N 514n “On the Procedure for conducting preventive medical examinations of minors” As amended and supplemented from: July 3, 2018, June 13, 2021

0–3 years

It is in the first years of life that the foundation for future physical and mental health is laid. During this period, inspections should be the most thorough.

A must visit:

• pediatrician,
• pediatric neurologist,
• pediatric orthopedic surgeon,
• pediatric otolaryngologist,
• pediatric ophthalmologist,
• pediatric dentist.

Based on the results of the examinations, examinations by other specialists may be prescribed.

Laboratory tests are also carried out:

• general blood and urine analysis,
• ECG,
• comprehensive ultrasound of the abdominal organs (liver, gall bladder, pancreas),
• Ultrasound of the kidneys.

Procedure for medical examinations at school

All students under 18 years of age are subject to examination. It is especially important to be examined by doctors before entering an educational institution, especially if we are talking about obtaining secondary specialized or higher education, since a health certificate is a prerequisite for admission to colleges and universities.

Annual school procedures take place either directly within the walls of the institution or in the clinic. In the first case, doctors will be invited to a specially designated room where the process will take place. If you wish, you can complete the study yourself at any time convenient for your parents.

All research results are documented in the form of a preventive examination card. Information about the condition of children is transmitted to their parents. A medical professional has no right to disclose it without the consent of the child and his legal representatives.

3–7 years

At the beginning of this period, an important social change occurs: the child goes to kindergarten, where he has to interact with other children (and, as a result, viruses and bacteria).

Therefore, to all medical examinations that the child underwent before the age of three, the following are additionally added:

• speech therapist (to identify defects and correct speech),
• child psychologist (to determine the child’s readiness to interact in a team),
• orthodontist,
• immunologist

How is a gynecological examination performed?

The specifics of the procedure largely depend on the school. As a rule, if it takes place in an educational institution, girls do not even have to get acquainted with the gynecological chair. In this case, the doctor will simply listen to complaints, ask questions about the menstrual cycle, and examine the mammary glands.

Until the age of 14, students are examined on a couch, checking the condition of the external genitalia and palpating the lower abdomen. The main part of the appointment consists of a conversation between the girl and the doctor, and if there are no complaints or suspicions of tumors, it does not come to examining the vagina and uterus. From the age of 14, adolescents can already be offered a check-up in a gynecological chair.

If the girl is sexually active, the doctor will pay attention directly to the vagina. Otherwise, the internal genital organs are felt through the anus.

7–16 years

The modern world leaves its mark on the health of children. Parents are not able to control how much time the child spends staring at the gadget monitor, how often he eats unhealthy food, or whether he sits correctly at his desk. Therefore, children suffer en masse from blurred vision, gastritis and scoliosis.

To prevent these processes from becoming pathological, medical examinations should be carried out once a year and be as detailed as possible:

• pediatrician,
• neurologist,
• ENT,
• ophthalmologist,
• orthopedic surgeon,
• dentist,
• endocrinologist

During puberty, the following will be added without fail:

• gynecologist,
• urologist.

Standard laboratory tests that must be taken:

• general analysis of blood, urine, stool,
• Ultrasound,
• ECG,
• from 12 years old - fluorography.

Let's solve most problems at the stage of their inception and not be lazy, postponing going to the doctor for later. Then the rest of the days can be devoted to development, and not to illness.

Why do you need a medical examination for minors?

Examinations are events involving doctors of various specializations. This is convenient for both parents and children, since the school independently organizes this event and gathers doctors in one place, freeing students from the need to waste time visiting clinics and hospitals.

The purpose of such an event is to determine the state of health. During the procedures, existing disorders in the body are identified, which allows parents to begin treatment on time and prevent complications.

School is a place where hundreds and thousands of children interact with each other every day. The risk of the spread of severe infectious diseases under such circumstances is greatly increased.

An annual medical examination is mandatory for all adolescents, boys and girls.

Responsibility for maintaining the health of students lies with the health workers of educational institutions, and routine examinations help them identify the sick person and, if necessary, send him home for the duration of treatment, promptly isolating him from the team.

In graduating classes, passing a medical examination is necessary for further admission to secondary specialized and higher educational institutions. The school is responsible for issuing the certificate, so it is more convenient for parents and students to go through all the necessary procedures with the class, rather than separately from it.

Endocrinologist

The endocrine glands in children function somewhat differently than in adults. In the process of growth and formation, they change, awaken, and “learn” to produce the optimal level of hormones for a particular organism. Regular monitoring is necessary in order not to miss the imbalance, which may not manifest itself at first, but later develop into serious endocrinological problems.

At the annual examination, the pediatric endocrinologist will check height, weight, body proportions for compliance with standards, and prescribe a control analysis of the main hormones: T3, T4, insulin, growth hormone, testosterone in boys and estrogen in girls. It is especially important to regularly visit a specialist during puberty.

Dentist

You will have to meet with the pediatric dentist often - once every 3-4 months. This is necessary to detect caries at the earliest stages. Children have very thin enamel, so it is not always able to effectively resist pathogenic bacteria. If caries is detected at the stage of a white spot or superficial damage to the enamel, treatment will not even require the use of a drill. This is beneficial both economically for parents and psycho-emotionally for the child.

In addition, adolescents may experience unpleasant diseases or conditions due to hormonal changes, such as halitosis and increased formation of dental plaque1, so only regular examinations over time will help identify these problems at an early stage and eliminate them.

But visits to the dentist are not enough. Quality home care is important to maintain dental health. Elmex® children's toothpaste with amino fluoride is designed specifically for babies. It helps strengthen the enamel to effectively resist tooth decay.

Legislation.

Medical examinations for children were first introduced in 2000. In 2021, the Order was amended by administrative act No. 514n of the Ministry of Health, which entered into force on January 1, 2018.

It clearly states the timing of the commission, as well as a list of specialists whom the child must visit.

If a preschooler recently had an appointment with a doctor, then he does not have to go through it again.

Information about the child’s health can be included in the certificate if the examination was carried out no later than 3 months from the date of the commission. For children under 2 years of age, this period is reduced to 2 months.

Before entering a preschool organization, parents must issue a certificate 026у for a minor.

Data will be entered into it throughout the entire time of visiting a preschool educational organization and schooling.

At what age are boys checked at the military registration and enlistment office?

Like girls, boys undergo preventive examinations annually and in-depth at a certain age. Information about the health of a student from the age of 15 is entered into the conscript’s personal file.

Repeated examinations, but directly at the military registration and enlistment office, and not at the local clinic, are carried out at 16 and 18 years of age. They are necessary to form a complete picture of the boy’s health status, his level of development and physical fitness. The psychiatrist's opinion is also important. All data obtained during the verification allows us to preliminarily determine the category of the future soldier.

How does the commission work?

A medical examination at a military registration and enlistment office is practically no different from a school one. Boys will need to appear at the appointed time and submit documents to the office for registration of military personnel. After this, the examination of adolescents begins, which differs little from the procedures for girls of the same age carried out at school.

Future conscripts will be examined by the following specialists:

• therapist;
• psychiatrist;
• ophthalmologist;
• otolaryngologist;
• dentist;
• neurologist;
• surgeon.

As a rule, a certain floor is allocated for medical examinations to make it easier for boys to find the necessary specialists. Depending on the results, the teenager may be sent for additional diagnostics.

Orthopedist

It is best to visit an orthopedist from the first year of life. If the child is developing normally, then the intervals between meetings are at least 12 months, and sometimes more. From the moment of birth until the age of 21-24, bones and joints are in a constant process of growth and change. The human skeleton is a complex system of interacting levers, and improper development or position of one of its parts introduces an imbalance into the entire system. For example, posture affects internal organs, muscles, and even brain nutrition.

If necessary, a specialist can prescribe various correction options: exercise therapy, massage, orthopedic insoles, posture braces, recommendations on occupational and rest hygiene.