What is the medical examination schedule required for my child?

All children entering kindergarten or first grade should have a complete health exam within 90 days of entry and up-to-date immunizations. Health exams help identify health problems before they become more serious. The exam may be obtained as early as 18 months prior to first grade entry if your child is at least 4 years and 3 months of age.

Approximately one in ten children starting school have an unknown health problem, such as asthma, hearing loss, or vision loss. A comprehensive physical exam increases the opportunity to detect health problems early so that the conditions may be treated and long-term complications may be prevented. A healthy child does better in school!

Your child should have one exam during each of these age ranges:

Babies and Toddlers

• Under 1 month old
• 1-2 months old
• 3-4 months old
• 5-6 months old
• 7-9 months old
• 10-12 months old
• 13-15 months old
• 16-23 months old
• 2 years old
• 3 years old

School Children

• Between 4-5 years old
• Between 6-8 years old
• Between 9-12 years old

Teenagers and Young Adults

• Between 13-16 years old
• Between 17-20 years old

A health checkup may also be given, when required, for sports, or camp.

A Health Exam for children includes:

• A head-to-toe physical exam
• All needed shots
• A growth & development check
• A vision test
• A hearing test
• Teeth & gum check
• Nutrition information
• Lab tests
• Lead poisoning screening
• Special tests, like tests for sickle cell anemia and other blood disorders
• Health education on topics such as tobacco use prevention and cessation, safety, lead poisoning prevention, dental, and other issues pertaining to child health
• Preventive health exams may also:
• Help parents and children establish a relationship with a primary care physician
• Help establish a healthy baseline to aid diagnosis when children become sick

Complete head-to-toe health exam may:

• Find and treat health problems before they become serious
• Allow parents and children to ask questions about child health
• Help children stay healthy

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