Prevention Guidelines, Ages 2 to 18
Screening tests and vaccines are an important part of managing your child's health. A screening test is done to find possible disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not considered diagnostic, but are used to determine if more testing is needed. Below are guidelines for these, for children and teens from ages 2 to 18. Talk with your child's healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on what he or she needs.
Screening | Who needs it | How often |
|---|---|---|
Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections | Sexually active females up to age 24 years | Once a year |
High lead level | Children who are 6 years of age and younger | Questions to determine risk or blood tests may be done once a year |
HIV | Children in this age group at risk for infection; talk with your child’s healthcare provider | At routine exams |
Obesity | Assessment of obesity risk for all patients | At routine exams |
Tooth decay and other dental problems | All children in this age group | Dental exams every 6 months; fluoride supplements from age 6 months to 16 years for those with low fluoride levels in their water; fluoride varnish should be applied every 3 to 6 months; fluoride rinses may be used in children age 6 years or older, if they are able to rinse and spit |
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes | Children age 10 or over who are overweight or obese and have 2 or more additional diabetes risk factors | Every 3 years |
Blood pressure | All children 3 years of age and older | Annual well child visit |
Vision problems | All children in this age group | Screening once between ages 3 and 5 years |
Vaccines | Who needs it | How often |
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) | All children under age 7 years | Booster between ages 4 and 6 years |
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) | All children age 7 years or older | Booster between ages 11 and 12 years |
Chickenpox (varicella) | Children who have not had chickenpox | Booster between ages 4 and 6 years |
Hepatitis A | Children at risk (talk with your child’s healthcare provider) or those who didn’t have the vaccine at an earlier age | Should be fully vaccinated by age 2; if not, can have vaccine at routine visits, with second dose given at least 6 months after first dose |
Hepatitis B | Children who didn’t have the vaccine at an earlier age | 3-dose series: The second dose is given 4 weeks after the first dose, and the final dose is given 16 weeks after the first dose |
Human papillomavirus (HPV) | Children age 11 or 12 years, but may be given beginning at age 9 years through age 26 | 2-dose series: Ages 9 to 14 years, with second dose 6 to 12 months after the first 3-dose series: Ages 15 to 26, with the second dose given 2 months after the first dose, and the third dose given 6 months after the first dose |
Inactivated poliovirus | All children | A final dose between ages 4 and 6 years |
Influenza (flu) | All children in this age group | Once a year |
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) | All children | Second dose between ages 4 and 6 years |
Meningococcal (conjugate) | All children | 1 dose between ages 11 and 12, and a booster at age 16, or by age 18 if not vaccinated before; only 1 dose is needed if the first dose is given at age 16 years or older; high-risk children should receive a vaccine series before age 2 years |
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) | Healthy children between ages 18 months and 5 years may get PCV13 if not received at a younger age; high-risk children may receive PCV13 starting at age 5 years and PPSV23 starting at age 2 years | PCV13 is given before PPSV23; The timing and number of doses varies |
Counseling | Who needs it | How often |
Depression | Children between ages 12 and 18 years | At routine exams |
Prevention of sexually transmitted infections | Children in this age group who are sexually active | At routine exams |
Prevention of skin cancer | Fair-skinned children starting at age 10 years | At routine exams |
Increased physical activity | Children with diabetes or prediabetes | At routine exams |
1 American Academy of Pediatrics
2 Those who are not up-to-date on their childhood immunizations, should receive all appropriate catch-up vaccines recommended by the CDC.