Well-child visits with Dr. Maria Castro of StarLight Pediatrics in Holly Springs, NC, are essential whether you have a newborn or a teenager. Annual visits to the pediatrician make it possible to:
Diagnose health, growth, or developmental issues
Symptoms of health problems are often subtle initially and may not be severe enough for your child to realize that there's a problem. For example, your child's nagging cough may not be related to allergies but could be caused by asthma.
When your child visits the pediatrics office in Holly Springs, NC, every year for a physical, the doctor or nurse practitioners can spot symptoms or issues that could affect your child's health, growth, and development. Unfortunately, you never know when your child might develop a new problem. Thanks to yearly visits, issues can be detected when they're still fairly minor and easier to treat.
Monitor chronic conditions
Annual visits also help your child's doctor monitor chronic health conditions, like allergies, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and sickle cell disease. If your child has a chronic condition, he or she may benefit from more frequent well-child visits.
Receive immunizations
Immunizations protect your son or daughter from many childhood illnesses. Vaccines help your child's body fight off germs that cause illnesses. If your child is exposed to a particular germ after receiving an immunization, he or she won't get sick or may only develop a mild illness.
Common immunizations recommended during childhood include:
- Polio
- Rotavirus
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
- Measles, mumps, and rubella
- Varicella
- Haemophilus influenza type B
- Pneumococcal conjugate
- Hepatitis A
- Meningococcal conjugate
- Meningococcal B
- Influenza
- Human papillomavirus
Your child's pediatrician can discuss the ideal immunization schedule for your son or daughter during the well-child visit.
Ask questions and discuss concerns
Well-child visits are the perfect time to ask questions about any unusual symptoms that you may have noticed or discuss the learning or behavioral issues. Since you spend the most time with your son or daughter, the pediatrician relies on you to share information about his or her physical and emotional health. In fact, your insights and observations can be instrumental in identifying problems and helping your child stay healthy.
Is it time for your son or daughter's next well-child visit? Call your Holly Springs, NC, pediatrician, Dr. Castro of StarLight Pediatrics at (919) 762-5113.