It is recommended that most children see a pediatrician for a physical exam and checkup once every year. These annual visits enable the doctor to monitor overall health, growth, and development to ensure your child is on track. Dr. Errol Keith Douglas, the board-certified pediatrician at Gold Pediatrics in Rockville, MD, offers annual physicals and other services to help kids enjoy better health.

Purpose of Annual Physical Exam

Annual physical exams promote better health and wellness in children, so scheduling one for your child every year is important. These visits allow the pediatrician to monitor growth and development from one year to the next to ensure that kids reach various milestones on time. If there are any delays, steps can be taken immediately to help your child catch up.

Annual physical exams also serve a preventative purpose. The doctor will assess your child’s overall health and wellness and make recommendations for steps that can be taken to improve health and prevent illness or other issues. Annual physical exams also allow you to identify new health concerns, such as allergies, developed since your child’s last visit. Such issues can be treated immediately, preventing them from becoming more serious.

Annual Physical Exams

An annual physical exam has several aspects. At our pediatric office in Rockville, MD, physicals include reviewing your child’s personal and family medical history, a physical examination, various age-related screenings, and immunizations if needed. Additionally, the doctor might discuss nutrition, daily physical activity needs, screen time limitations, and upcoming milestones in growth and development.

The physical examination portion of the appointment includes a complete assessment of your child’s physical health. Some key areas checked during the exam include:

• Blood pressure
• Heart rate or pulse
• Respiration rate (lungs and breathing)
• Height and weight measurements
• Ears, nose, and throat
• Joints and muscles
• Reflexes
• Posture
• Eyes and vision

Another component of annual physical exams is immunization, which helps protect kids from contracting certain illnesses and diseases. We follow the immunization scheduling guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our pediatric team will ensure your child is current with all the recommended immunizations.

Annual physical exams are important for children to enjoy better health and wellness. Schedule Calliatrics in Rockville, MD, at (301) 517-9710. to schedule your child's next physical with Dr. Douglas.