When to see the doctor...
Checkup Guidelines
and Childhood Immunization Schedule
When you have a major cut, broken bone or
are involved in an injury vehicle accident, the decision
to see a doctor is rather obvious, but when things are going
well, or you have a dull ache that persists for weeks, the
decision may be more difficult.
Dr. Ben Till with
Kneibert Clinic has been sharing the below guidelines with
his patients for several years.
Age 21 to 30
Patients should have an annual exam that includes a Hct.
(blood test for anemia), urinalysis, glaucoma screen, and
rectal examination. Females should have an annual physical
breast exam and pap smear, pelvic examination, and weight
and blood pressure check. Both sexes should have a cholesterol
and a VDRL (venereal disease test) every five years and
a tuberculin (for tuberculosis) skin test every five to
10 years.
Age 30 to 40
Annual physical examinations that should include an EKG,
chest X-ray and a rectal examination. Women should have
a breast, pelvic, Pap exam. Women should have a mammogram
every five years starting at age 35. As with younger patients,
Dr. Till recommends a cholesterol test every fifth year
and a tuberculin skin test every 10 years. Patients should
consider a urinalysis and a Hct. blood test.
Age 40 and above
Annual physical examinations (see above). Women should increase
mammograms to every two years until age 50, then once a
year.Patients should consider a sigmoidscopy (colon) test
every four or five years after age 50. A Td (tetanus and
diphtheria shot) is recommended every five to 10 years.
Other exams that should be considered are,
a T4 thyroid check, a lipid profile to check good and bad
cholesterol levels, and CBC's (Complete Blood Counts), and
osteoporosis screening. Glaucoma screenings are suggested
for every two years and annually after age 55. Males 50
and over should undergo a PSA (prostrate) test annually.
Childhood Immunizations.
Doctors at Kneibert Clinic follow the Recommended
Childhood Immunization Schedule that is approved by the
American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy
of Family Physicians.
These recommendations are as follows:
A series of three Hepatitis B shots, starting
at birth or two months, depending on the mother's
HBsAG test.
Several infant shots can be combined at age
two months, four months, and six months.
Shots given at each of these ages include, DTaP for diptheria,
tetanus and pertussis, PCV to prevent pneumococcal disease
which is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the
U.S., Hib to prevent haemophilus influenza, a serious disease
caused by a bacteria, and IPV to prevent polio.
The third polio shot can be taken from
6 to 18 months.
At 12 months of age, children should
have their first MMR shot, which protects against measles,
mumps and rubella.
Between 12 and 18 months children should
have a chickenpox protective shot called varicella.
Fourth Hiv and PCV shots should be taken at
between 12-15 months.
An IPV booster amd a second MMR are recommended
between 4-6 years-old.
Vaccines can cause severe reactions in children.
For a phamplet that lists the risks, contact a physician
or nurse practitioner at Kneibert Clinic at 686-2411.
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