Screening tests to find health problems before
symptoms appear.
Diagnostic tests, medical exams, and self-exams to
find a disease or other health problem early in its course.
Why should you think about early disease detection?
Often, the earlier a disease is diagnosed, the
more likely it is that it can be cured or successfully managed. Managing a
disease, especially early in its course, may lower its impact on your life or
prevent or delay serious complications.
What tests should you have?
The tests you need depend on your age,
health, gender, and your risk factors. Risk factors might include
family history, such as having a close relative with
cancer, and lifestyle issues, such as smoking.
Cholesterol screening, for example, is recommended for
people who have a family history of early
coronary artery disease.
To learn more about suggested tests, review the
medical test information(What is a PDF document?)
form with your doctor.
Who develops recommendations for early disease detection?
Expert panels of health professionals develop recommendations and publish
them as guidelines for all health professionals to use. For example, the
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American
College of Physicians both have guidelines for cholesterol screening, and the
American Academy of Pediatrics has guidelines on early childhood screening for
many different conditions.
Sometimes different panels make
different recommendations. In these situations, talk with your doctor to decide
which guidelines best meet your health needs.
When should you be tested?
If you are at risk for a disease, you
and your doctor will decide whether you should be tested for it. Discuss the
testing, the disease, the risks and benefits of the testing, and what action
you are willing to take if you have the condition. For example, if your doctor
believes you are at risk for
osteoporosis, factors to consider before testing
include your age, whether others in your family have had osteoporosis, whether
you are a
postmenopausal woman, and your willingness to take
medicine or make lifestyle changes if you test positive for this condition.
In some cases, testing is done as part of a routine
checkup.
Health Tools
Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Interactive tools are designed to help people determine health risks, ideal weight, target heart rate, and more.
Your baby should have
regularly scheduled checkups, often called
well-baby visits, starting shortly after birth. During
these visits, the doctor examines your baby for possible problems and asks you
questions about your baby's growth and development. In general, a baby is
evaluated:
Right after birth.
At 3 to 5 days
old.
By 1 month of age.
At 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age.
All states require newborn screening, although the tests
required vary from state to state. They may include:
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a childhood condition caused by abnormal development of the hip
joint. All newborns are examined for DDH at birth, and the growth and
development of your child's hips should also be examined during regular
well-child checkups until he or she begins walking normally. If the results of
a physical exam are unclear, an
imaging test such as an
ultrasound or
X-ray may be used to check your child's hip joints.
The
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not have
enough evidence to recommend routine infant screening for DDH as a way to
improve the health outcome. For more information, see the topic
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.
If
the doctor is concerned that your child has been exposed to certain substances
or diseases, tests may include:
Your child should
have regularly scheduled checkups, often called
well-child visits. During these visits, your child's
doctor will check your child's growth and development and examine your child
for possible problems. In general, a child is evaluated:
At 15, 18, 24, and 30 months of
age.
At 3, 4, and 5 years of age.
Normal checks include:
Behavioral concerns such as
temper tantrums, thumb-sucking,
breath-holding, and aggressive behavior that hurts
others emotionally or physically (bullying).
Blood pressure screening. Your child should have his
or her blood pressure checked every year, beginning at age 3.
In general, your child is
evaluated at ages 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. At each
well-child visit, your child's doctor will check to
see whether your child is growing and developing as expected. The goal is to
find out early if your child has any problems that could affect his or her
health and well-being.
Normal checks include:
School concerns, such as grades, favorite
subjects, and the teacher's idea of how your child is doing at
school.
Behavioral concerns, such as
temper tantrums and aggressive behavior that hurts
others emotionally or physically (bullying).
Blood pressure screening. Your child should have his
or her blood pressure checked every year.
In general, your child or
teen is evaluated yearly. At each
well-child visit, the doctor will check your child's
growth and development and examine your child for possible problems.
Normal checks include:
School and behavioral concerns, such as failing
classes or dropping out of school, relationship problems with friends and
family that affect home or school life, severe mood swings, lack of interest in
normal activities and withdrawal from others, being physically aggressive,
becoming sexually active, and drinking alcohol or using tobacco or drugs.
Early disease detection
during adulthood is intended to identify diseases that may develop as you age.
Regular checkups and screening are important to stay in good health.
How often you have the following tests depends on your age, health, and
risk factors for specific diseases. Tests that may be done at your regular
checkups include:
Monitor your
weight, and see your doctor if you suddenly or
consistently gain or lose weight. For more information, see the topics
Weight Management and
Obesity.
As you age, the risk of
developing some diseases increases. Regular checkups and screening tests are
important to stay in good health.
For a screening checklist, see
www.ahrq.gov/ppip/men50.htm if you are a man and www.ahrq.gov/ppip/women50.htm
if you are a woman.
How often you have the following tests depends
on your age, health, and risk factors for specific diseases. Tests that may be
done at your regular checkups include:
Monitor your
weight, and see your doctor if you suddenly or
consistently gain or lose weight. For more information, see the topics
Weight Management and
Obesity.
Screening, 65 Years and Older
As you age, the risk
of developing some diseases increases. Regular checkups and screening tests are
important to maintain good health.
How often you have the
following tests depends on your age, health, and risk factors for specific
diseases. Tests that may be done at your regular checkups include:
Monitor your
weight, and see your doctor if you suddenly or
consistently gain or lose weight. For more information, see the topics
Weight Management and
Obesity.
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality
540 Gaither Road
Suite 2000
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone:
(301) 427-1364
Web Address:
www.ahrq.gov
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is
one agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. AHRQ
supports research initiatives that seek to improve the quality of health care
in America. AHRQ's mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency,
effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Americans. The Web
site provides evidence-based information to help people make decisions about
health care services.
American Academy of Family
Physicians
P.O. Box 11210
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210
Web Address:
www.familydoctor.org
The American Academy of Family Physicians produces a variety of
health-related educational materials. Its Web site offers a health library and
bulletin board, news, and comments sections.
American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Boulevard
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098
Phone:
(847) 434-4000
Fax:
(847) 434-8000
E-mail:
kidsdocs@aap.org
Web Address:
www.aap.org
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers a
variety of educational materials, such as links to publications about parenting
and general growth and development. Immunization information, safety and
prevention tips, AAP guidelines for various conditions, and links to other
organizations are also available.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone:
1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
TDD:
1-888-232-6348
E-mail:
cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Web Address:
www.cdc.gov
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is
an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The CDC works
with state and local health officials and the public to achieve better health
for all people. The CDC creates the expertise, information, and tools that
people and communities need to protect their health-by promoting health,
preventing disease, injury, and disability, and being prepared for new health
threats.
KidsHealth for Parents, Children, and
Teens
4600 Touchton Road East, Building 200
Suite 500
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Phone:
(904) 232-4100
Fax:
(904) 232-4125
Web Address:
www.kidshealth.org
This Web site is sponsored by Nemours Foundation. It has
a wide range of information about children's health, from allergies and
diseases to normal growth and development (birth to adolescence). This Web site
offers separate areas for kids, teens, and parents, each providing
age-appropriate information that the child or parent can understand. You can
sign up to get weekly e-mails about your area of interest.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2003). Screening
for dementia: Recommendation and rationale. Annals of Internal Medicine, 139(11): 925-926.
Other Works Consulted
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2008).
Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2008: Recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (AHRQ Publication No. 08-05122).
Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Also available
online: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/pocketgd.htm.
American Academy of Pediatrics (2008). Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 3rd ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American
Academy of Pediatrics.
Morton CC, Nance WE (2006). Newborn hearing
screening-A silent revolution. New England Journal of Medicine, 354(20): 2151-2164.
Tarini BA (2007). The current revolution in newborn
screening. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 161(8): 767-772.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2003). Screening
for dementia: Recommendation and rationale. Annals of Internal Medicine, 139(11): 925-926.
