Nicolas Doss, M.D.
Pediatrician
Henry Ford Medical Center- Fairlane

As summer winds down, parents begin to prepare a back-to-school checklist that typically includes buying new clothes, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies for their child. Those items are usually high on the “to do list.” So should their child’s routine school physical. It’s a good opportunity for parents and doctors to talk about development and behavioral issues the child may be having.

A physical typically includes a blood test, urine sampling, height and weight check, and vision and hearing testing. School physicals can often detect health issues before they become a problem. As physicians, we certainly have seen cases where children do poorly in school for no apparent reason. In reality, it may be a case of hearing loss that can be detected by a routine physical. Also, a simple eye exam can quickly identify a child with poor vision. Children who can easily see the blackboard or read a book tend to do much better in school then a child who struggles to make out numbers and words.

Another common medical condition that is often detected by a physical is asthma. With early asthma detection, not only will children breathe easier, so will their parents after an explanation of what the illness is and how it can be treated and managed. Obviously, this is a much better scenario then frightened parents rushing their child to the emergency room because their child can’t breathe and they don’t understand why.

No physical is complete without updated vaccinations for your child. They protect children against illnesses such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles). Your pediatrician will review your child’s vaccination schedule and provide you with important immunization information.

Even if your child missed some immunizations, it’s not too late to catch-up. These immunizations are generally considered to be quite safe and many medical experts agree that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Lastly, if your child is involved in athletics, it is paramount your child receives a physical before practice begins. This physical is designed to detect conditions that might predispose the student to injury or illness during competition and to detect life-threatening conditions. In particular, your pediatrician will look for musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, hypertension, visual problems, and general health condition. This exam is not intended to keep your child out of sports but rather to identify the appropriate level of participation along with a health treatment plan, if necessary.

Please consult your pediatrician about any questions you may have or recommendations for other immunizations, booster shots, or health treatment plans that may be beneficial to your child. Remember, pediatricians, just like parents, want to see children grow up healthy. Keeping up with regular physical exams and recommended immunizations makes the grade in your child’s overall health and well-being.

To make an appointment with a Henry Ford physician please call 1-800-HENRYFORD (800-436-7936) or visit us on the Web at www.henryford.com.