Children's Health - Children's Health

Children's Health

All children should have regular well-child check ups according to the schedule recommended by their physician or pediatrician. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that children be seen for well-baby check ups at two weeks, two months, four months, six months, nine months, twelve months, fifteen months, and eighteen months. Well-child visits are recommended at ages two, three, four, five, six, eight, 10, and annually thereafter through age 21.
In addition, an immunization schedule should be followed to protect against disease and infection. As of 2004, the AAP and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended that the following childhood immunizations be administered by age two:

* Hepatitis B. Three doses.
* Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP). Four doses.
* H. influenzae type b (Hib). Four doses.
* Inactivated Polio. Three doses.
* Pneumococcal Conjugate. Three doses.
* Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR). One dose.
* Varicella (chickenpox). One dose.
* Hepatitis A. (In certain geographical areas and with certain high risk groups.)

The flu vaccine has been added in recent years and has been recommended for childhood caregivers. It is not recommended for children younger than six months of age. A combined vaccine called the Hexavac includes the vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, H. influenza B, and hepatitis B in one dose. In clinical trials in 2004, it was shown to be safe and effective in young children.
Some immunizations may cause mild side effects, or more rarely, serious adverse reactions. However, the benefits of immunization greatly outweigh the incidence of health problems arising from them.
There are serious chronic diseases and health problems that are frequently diagnosed in childhood and cannot be vaccinated against. These include, but are not limited to, asthma, type I diabetes (juvenile diabetes), leukemia, hemophilia, and cystic fibrosis.

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