Children’s health: five medical examinations to do this back to school
Back to school is this Thursday, September 1st. To ensure your child has a healthy year, here are five helpful checkups to do at an early age and then as they grow.
Back to school is often an opportunity to do some medical examinations for children. It is advisable to make an appointment with the ophthalmologist and the dentist, to have your eyesight and teeth checked, as well as with the pediatrician or the general practitioner to check whether the vaccines are up to date or to request a medical certificate to carry out a sports activity. Also, don’t forget to treat your toddler for worms and, if necessary, for lice.
Control your children’s eyesight
This is an essential step for young children, when they enter kindergarten: it is recommended to have their sight checked. 80% of children’s learning (reading, using screens or even writing) passes through their eyes. Thus, according to the national association for the improvement of sight (Asnav), it is advisable “to have him consult an ophthalmologist as soon as he enters kindergarten, then at six years old, when he enters CP”.
Consult a dentist after the holidays
In order to avoid any risk of cavities, which are frequent in children and adolescents, it is strongly advised to go to a dentist. The Health Insurance has offered the “M’T dents” program since 2007. It allows free consultations with a dentist once every three years, from 3 to 24 years old.
This device, allowing preventive treatment of any dental problem in children, does not dispense with regular monitoring by a practitioner. This allows, in particular, to check that the holidays have not done any damage in terms of dental health.
Check if vaccinations are up to date
Whooping cough, hepatitis B or even rubella… A total of 11 vaccines are compulsory for all children born after the 1is January 2018. To enroll them in school, all of these injections must be up to date.
Three vaccines require several reminders: those against diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis. In the case of the first, the first two injections take place at two and four months. The booster dose occurs at 11 months.
For tetanus, it is necessary to receive, after the first injection and the first booster at 11 months, two periodic boosters, at six years and then at 11 years.
Finally, for poliomyelitis, the second injection must take place at six years old, then a third between 11 and 13 years old.
If your child hasn’t received all of their reminders, no problem. He will not be forced to restart the vaccinations from the beginning.
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Prevent the risk of parasites
A nightmare for parents and children alike, parasites (worms, lice, etc.) can take advantage of the start of the school year to proliferate. Thus, preventive treatments can be useful before the children return to school, such as antiparasitics (dewormers), or treatment shampoos against lice and nits. If in doubt, do not hesitate to consult a general practitioner.
Request a medical certificate of physical fitness
Even if the certificate of aptitude for sport from a doctor is not necessary for physical education courses in the school setting, if your child practices a collective or individual sport in a club, he will imperatively need a medical certificate from ‘physical aptitude.
It should be noted that it is possible for children aged 4-5 and then between 8 and 9 years old to benefit from medical consultations covered by the Health Insurance, without advance payment.
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