Health Screening Tests for Infants and Children

Preventive examinations are an important topic not only for adults, but also (and especially) for children. They should be performed regularly – preferably every year, which in the case of small patients is necessary due to the intensity of development and entering its subsequent stages. In order for it to proceed without any problems, it is important to control health. When to see a doctor? What blood tests should be preventively performed for a child? And how to prepare?

Developmental Screening - when should it be done?

Every child should undergo a health screening after they reach the age of two. It includes the measurement of height and weight, examination of the efficiency of the sight, hearing and speech. Moreover, the child is auscultated in order to detect abnormalities in the work of the heart and respiratory system. The external genitalia is checked for proper development, and abdominal palpation is performed as well. The way of moving is also assessed - it allows detecting abnormal development in the osteoarticular system. A child's health check should be carried out at certain stages of development – it is recommended for children aged 2, 4, 6, 10, as well as adolescents aged 14, 16 and 18.

Screening tests for children

Screening tests for children consist of various tests, the performance of which allows to accurately determine the child's health state. Performing it is especially important when the child is not yet able to say what causes the pain or discomfort. The analysis of the results of these tests gives a full picture of what is happening in the little patient's body and thus enables the doctor to choose the appropriate treatment. What examinations should be done prophylactically for a child?

1. Blood morphology test
Blood morphology is a basic test, often being the starting point for further diagnostics. Its result gives a general overview of the state of health, and when combined with the results of other tests, it will allow detection any abnormalities. The blood test includes the number of both red and white blood cells, as well as hemoglobin and hematocrit.

2. ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
The ESR test detects inflammation in the body, and it is determined by the rate at which the red blood cells drawn fall down within 1-2 hours. A positive result does not indicate a specific cause of the infection, therefore further diagnosis is necessary.

3. Iron levels
Iron is one of the key micronutrients for the child’s development – the demand for it during the growth period is very high, and fulfilling it is sometimes relatively difficult. Its deficiency can lead to the development of anemia, which can cause fatigue, headaches and general malaise, as well as tachycardia and lowering blood pressure. A drop of iron in blood can be a signal of developing a serious disease – e.g. cancer of the bone marrow.

4. ASO (antistreptolysin reaction)
The ASO test detects the streptococcus A antigen in the blood. Its presence indicates that the child is a carrier or has had streptococcal infection in the past. In particular, it is recommended for children who have suffered from angina (especially purulent) or scarlet fever. In both cases, symptoms include a severe sore throat and a high fever.

5. CRP (C-reactive protein)
CRP is an acute phase protein that is produced by the liver when the body becomes inflamed. It is recommended in case of bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infection, as well as autoimmune diseases and cancer are suspected. Increased CRP is often accompanied by fever, which is one of the indications for the examination. In addition, the obtained result may help to identify a specific infection – a CRP of 40-200 mg/l indicates a bacterial infection, and 20-40 mg/l means that the infection is most likely viral.

6. Urine general examination
Urine is made up of many substances which help assess health and detect abnormalities in organs such as the kidneys, liver and pancreas. The urinalysis is also the basic test to detect a urinary tract infection. The test checks the pH of the urine as well as the presence of protein, sugar and blood. In addition, the color and clarity of urine are analyzed. For the result to be as accurate as possible, urine must be collected on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning, from the middle stream. Before collecting, the child's intimate area should be washed. It is recommended that your child's urine be tested every 2 years, although it is best done annually, with periodic blood tests.

Blood collection in a child

Taking a child’s blood can be challenging. This procedure is not the most pleasant and may cause fear, especially in the youngest patients. Therefore, in order to avoid complications, as well as an unnecessary dose of stress, it is worth preparing for it in the right way.

Take care of hydration of your child

It is very important to ensure an adequate level of hydration in the body. Dehydration makes the blood thicker and the veins less visible, which cause complications such as poor insertion and poor blood flow – it often makes it impossible to collect a sample. In order to avoid such problems, it is enough to give the child water (it is important that it was water, not juice) for at least half an hour before the procedure.

Take a blood test in the morning

The key to getting the correct result is to make sure that the child undergoes the test on an empty stomach or at the earliest 3 hours after a light meal. A meal eaten shortly before the test will affect the result, e.g. by a significant increase in blood sugar or an increase in the number of white blood cells. It is usually recommended that blood tests be performed by 10 o'clock.

Take care of the psychological comfort of the child

Taking blood in a child is often a cause of anxiety that affects not only the children but also the parents themselves. It should be borne in mind that the excessive anxiety of adults can get small patients into the same spirit. That is why it is important to remain calm and explain to the child in advance what the whole procedure will involve – the more accurate the description, the better prepared and less scared the little patient will be. It is a good idea to present the blood test procedure as an interesting adventure.

A few words of summary

Each of the results should be consulted with a doctor. We should not search for the diagnosis on our own, e.g. on the Internet – the knowledge available there only gives a general view of the situation or contains erroneous information. In the case of such an important issue as the health of the child, an expert opinion is necessary.