Health screening for kids involves regular checking to assess the physical, emotional and social development of children in order to detect potential health issues early. Screening tests and health counselling are an important part of managing a child’s health. The goal is to find a disease early so that changes can be made and the child can be monitored more closely to reduce the chances of the disease.
These screenings involve complete blood counts (CBCs), urine analysis, blood tests for specific conditions like anaemia or infections, lipid panels, thyroid tests, screening for type II diabetes and dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol/obesity/other specific screenings). These are primarily undertaken to rule out or assess defects at birth, deficiencies, childhood diseases, and developmental delays and diseases.
Before venturing further, let us understand briefly the various illnesses children are prone to.
Defects at Birth
- Neural tube defect
- Blood group mismatch and jaundice
- Down’s syndrome
- Cleft lip and palate
- Developmental dysplasia of the hip
- Congenital cataract
- Congenital heart disease
- Retinopathy of prematurity
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Enzyme deficiencies
- Surgically correctable malformations
Deficiencies
- Screening for anaemia of various types
- Vitamin deficiencies – vitamin A, B, and D deficiencies
- Mineral deficiencies like calcium
- Malnutrition
- Goitre
Childhood Diseases
- Skin conditions
- Refractive errors
- Otitis media
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Dental caries
- Bone, spine and postural problems
Developmental Delay and Disabilities
- Vision impairment
- Hearing impairment
- Neuro-motor impairment
- Motor delay
- Cognitive delay
- Language delay
- Behavioural disorder
- Learning disorder
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Congenital hypothyroidism
- Autism
Psychological Disorders in Children and Adolescents
- Difficulty in reading and writing
- Anxiety/Depression
- Preventing suicides
- Inability to cope with stress
- Digital addiction
We, at Kauvery, are well aware that children are our future, and strengthening them both physically and mentally will lay a good foundation for building a stronger and healthier nation. Hence, we have been taking steps to bring screening checks for children in the near future at cost-effective rates because
“The best form of protection is early detection: Fostering timely and accurate screening is essential.”
Dr. Pushkala M.S.
Senior Consultant Paediatrician,
Kauvery Hospital, Chennai
