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Baby and children’s well checks

If your child is well and without symptoms, why would it be important to go for a check-up? Well, childhood is a time of rapid growth and development. So, whether you’ve got a brand new baby or a nine-year-old, well baby checks and annual physical exams are fundamental to ensuring that your child is growing well and as expected for his or her age.

In fact, tracking your child’s growth and development is crucial to his or her overall health, explains DR GINA DAHEL, a paediatric-trained doctor based at IMC Children’s.

For babies

Developmental assessments are designed to monitor how your child grows and changes over time, and examine whether your child meets the typical milestones with gross and fine motor skills, vision, hearing and social development. Any problems can be picked up early and managed right away, says Dr Dahel. This can greatly improve your child’s outcome.

“Each visit also provides an opportunity to discuss any parental concerns you may have, and get evidence-based advice on weaning, feeding and caring for your baby,” she says.

Most of baby’s well visits will coincide with vaccinations. So, in addition to a well check one week after birth and one month after birth, this usually means visits at two, four, six, nine, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months. At IMC Children’s, a well baby consultation includes:

• discussion of any ongoing medical issues;

• identification and discussion of any new issues;

• discussion of baby’s feeding, diet, bowel movements and sleeping;

• developmental screening;

• growth screening including height, weight, head circumference and BMI;

• physical examination;

• vaccine review and update; and

• referrals, if necessary.

For children

Dr Dahel recommends an annual child well check starting from the age of two. “Your child will continue to require certain vaccinations after the age of two, and our wellness checks will ensure your child is fully up to date with their immunisations. Your child’s vaccination schedule will be tailored to ensure adequate coverage for Singapore, your home country’s advice and your travel plans.”

These visits to the doctor are also a great opportunity to discuss preventative measures for health, diet, behavioural issues and other concerns.

A typical children’s well check at IMC Children’s includes:

• comprehensive medical history discussion;

• discussion of your child’s routine, including diet, toilet training and sleeping;

• discussion of your child’s behaviour;

• developmental screening;

• physical examination;

• growth screening, including height, weight, head circumference and BMI;

• vision testing

• vaccine review and update; and

• referrals, if necessary.

For teens

Adolescence – the start of puberty – is a unique stage, according to DR SHIVA NIP ALI W AL, a pa edi at ric trained doctor a tIM C Children’ s.

“Adolescents need extra focus and guidance, so having a health screening at this age is crucial”, she says. “Puberty is a stage of physical and mental changes that can affect emotional stability. With added influences of peer pressures, selfawareness, social life and social media, adolescents definitely need to have regular health screenings to identify any stressors early, in order to best manage them.”

Typical adolescent health screening should include discussions about:

• medical history and vaccinations for meningitis, tetanus and HPV;

• puberty and body changes;

• home, education and academics;

• social life, social media use and coping mechanisms;

• physical activity and fitness regimes; and

• nutrition and eating habits. For mature adolescents, Dr Shivani says there should also be discussions about sexuality, drugs, alcohol and substance abuse, and an assessment of mental health wellness. International Medical Clinic

IMC Camden, IMC Children’s,

IMC Jelita and IMC Katong

6733 4440 | imc-healthcare.com

Here are some of the reasons why it can be helpful to pay a visit to your family doctor.

Grown-up check-ups

Well checks are essential for adults too. In fact, regular visits to your GP, even if you feel perfectly well and healthy, are more important than you might think, explains DR JUNE TAN SHEREN of Osler Health International.

“The purpose of a health screening is to help you to find out if you have a disease or a condition that may cause future health challenges,” she says. “Many serious illnesses don’t cause discomfort in their earliest stages. For example, heart disease may not cause symptoms until a heart attack occurs. The same goes for stroke and some types of cancer as well. If these illnesses can be discovered at their earlier stages, treatment can be started before they become troublesome or lead to complications that are much more difficult to treat.”

Some of the key checks for adults include blood pressure and BMI (body mass index), screening for diabetes and high cholesterol, and screening for colorectal cancer. For women, cervical and breast cancer screening is also advised. What’s needed beyond these vital screenings really depends on the individual, says Dr June.

Make it personal

A test that’s necessary for your friend may not be beneficial to you. So choosing the right screening tests for you, based on your own medical and family history, diet and lifestyle factors, is crucial.

For example, if you’re a Hepatitis B carrier, you will need regular screening tests to check your liver. If you have a strong family history of heart attacks, you may be advised to start screening for high cholesterol and other risk factors at an earlier age and more frequently than what the basic framework recommends, says Dr June.

“It’s important to have a confidential discussion with your doctor, based on your personal needs – not an ‘off-theshelf’ solution.”

Make it annual

It’s also important not to look at health screening as a one-off check off your list. Screening only picks up signs of disease at that exact stage, and risk factors can change with age. So integrating an annual health check into your routine is the best way to maximise your long-term health, explains Dr June.

“Early detection not only saves lives; it also ensures a better quality of life for the longest time possible. You can put yourself on the right track starting with regular and appropriate health screening and engaging your family doctor as an essential partner in health.”

Osler Health International

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• #B1-27 The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green | 6339 2727 osler-health.com