Well Child Exams: Screening for Common Childhood Conditions

Even before your child is born, as a parent, you worry about their health. Luckily, taking them to the right pediatrician can ensure your child has the proper screenings and treatment they need from birth to the end of their adolescence. The A to Z Pediatrics team includes Dr. Haravu Lokesh, Dr. Rupal Desai, Dr. Monica Porcelli, and Tarah Savino, PA-C. They can thoroughly screen, diagnose, and treat your child for a range of common childhood issues during well-child exams in New Port Richey, FL.

What Do These Visits Screen For?

During well-child exams in New Port Richey, FL, pediatricians monitor children’s developmental track. Children are expected to be talking, walking, and showing a range of emotions at various ages. Your child will probably know about 50 words by the time they turn two years old. A baby will typically be saying their first words by 12 months, after months of babbling. Even before children become fully verbal, they usually express themselves by pointing, laughing, smiling, crying, and making eye contact with you and others they are familiar with.

Pediatricians also take note of your child's physical development by monitoring their weight and height. Healthy children will usually be within a general weight and height range by certain ages. Not having such growth spurts may indicate an underlying problem with hormones, disease, stress, or poor sleep. Your child’s doctor will also check vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory function, vision, and hearing. They monitor your child's reflexes and the development of the musculoskeletal system. A review and update of immunizations also takes place.

What Are Common Childhood Issues?

Autism has been detected more over the years. Therefore, autism screenings have become standard as part of developmental monitoring. An autism-specific screening is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children who are between 18 and 24 months old.

Some common childhood issues many children experience include sore throats or tonsillitis from viruses. Strep throat treatment usually requires antibiotics. Many children also experience ear infections. If your child has frequent ear infections, these wellness visits can help get to the root cause to help prevent them from reoccurring. A common cause may be improper drying after showering or swimming.

When you take your child to A to Z Pediatrics, they are under the best care, thanks to the expertise of Dr. Lokesh, Dr. Desai, Dr. Porcelli and our physician assistant, Tarah Savino. These providers will conduct thorough exams and answer any questions you have during well-child exams in New Port Richey, FL. Call us at 727- 375-5242 for an appointment today.