It can be tempting to skip a visit with a pediatrician if your child seems healthy, particularly if you are worried about exposing them to illness in the waiting room. The good news is that pediatrician offices have put many restrictions in place to make sure their office is a safe place for your family. Skipping the well-child visit is much more of a health hazard than the waiting room, and the following are just a few reasons why.
1. Nutrition Issues
Many kids are notorious for picky eating. Even children with a healthy appetite may still favor a few foods. Your pediatrician can help you come up with tactics to ensure your child, no matter how picky, is consuming a healthy diet with all the required nutrients. They can also check for nutrient deficiencies if there is a concern, and prescribe supplements to help make up for any shortcomings in the diet.
2. Hearing and Eye Problems
Most children don't need to see an eye or ear specialist unless they have a known problem. Instead, your family pediatrician is your first line of defense against these issues because they can perform annual assessments that help catch hearing or vision issues early. Kids can be particularly good at hiding vision or hearing loss, in part because it may seem like they just aren't paying attention. The assessments performed by your pediatrician are targeted so that problems are more easily found.
3. Immunizations
Immunizations are a key way of ensuring your child remains healthy both now and in the future. Regular pediatrician visits ensure that vaccinations are kept up to date, which then further ensures that your child has proper immunity. Beyond the usual child vaccines, such as for tetanus and measles, your child will also need their annual flu shot in fall. The flu can be deadly on its own, but it becomes even more dangerous if there are other illnesses making the rounds since the flu will temporarily lower your child's immune response.
4. Physical Issues
Many physical problems start off harmless enough in childhood and only become worse as the child grows older. Scoliosis, for example, maybe a slight curve in a child's back, but it can cause major pain and skeletal issues in an adult if it isn't discovered and addressed early. Gait problems, like pigeon toes, as well as reflex issues, can pose similar issues. Catching these problems early is the key to continued good health.
Contact a pediatrician service in your area for more information.
Share5 October 2020
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