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Health Screening Guidelines, Ages 2 to 18
Screening tests 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. Your child can be watched more closely to reduce the risk of disease, or to find it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not used to diagnose. Instead, they are used to decide if more testing is needed. Below are guidelines for these, for children and teens from ages 2 to 18.
Gender words are used here to talk about anatomy and health risk. Please use this information in a way that works best for you and your provider as you talk about your care.
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Screening
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Who needs it
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How often
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Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections
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Sexually active females ages 24 years and younger
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Once a year
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High lead level
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Children age 6 years old and younger
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Questions to determine risk or blood tests may be done once a year
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HIV
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All people ages 15 to 65 years and younger or older people at increased risk. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider
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At routine exams if 15 or older or younger if at risk
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Obesity
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Assessment of obesity risk for all patients
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At routine exams
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Tooth decay and other dental problems
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All children in this age group
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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
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Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
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Children ages 10 or older who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more other risk factors for diabetes
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At least every 3 years or more often if BMI is increasing
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Blood pressure
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All children 3 years of age and older
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Annual well-child visit
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Vision and hearing problems
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All children in this age group
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Screening once between ages 3 and 5 years, after that every 3 years
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Anemia
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Children approximately 12 months and older
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Once at approximately 12 months old, then repeated as needed based on risk assessment
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Counseling
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Who needs it
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How often
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Depression
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Children between ages 12 and 18 years
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At routine exams
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Anxiety
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Children between ages 8 and 18
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At routine exams
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Prevention of skin cancer
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Fair-skinned children starting at age 6 months
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At routine exams
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Prevention of sexually transmitted infections
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Children in this age group who are sexually active
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At routine exams
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More physical activity
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Children with obesity, diabetes, or prediabetes
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At routine exams
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Prevention of starting tobacco use
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School-age children
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At routine exams
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Online Medical Reviewer:
Jessica Gotwals RN BSN MPH
Online Medical Reviewer:
Liora C Adler MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Tennille Dozier RN BSN RDMS
Date Last Reviewed:
10/1/2022
© 2000-2023 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.