Childhood Health Surveillance

Question 1

How could you explain height and weight percentiles to parents?

Answer 1

“If we lined up 100 healthy boys of exactly the same age in order of size, the smallest would have a weight around the bottom line and heaviest around the top line. They are all healthy as we are all different shapes and sizes.”

Question 2

What should be done for a child within 24-hours of birth in terms of health surveillance?

Answer 2

1. Full newborn examination
2. Vitamin K
3. Give the parents the red book - personal child health record

Question 3

What does the newborn blood spot screening test screen for and when does it take place?

Answer 3

1. Congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, phenylketonuria, MCADD, IVA, maple syrup urine disease, glutaric aciduria type 1, homocystinuria.
2. 5-8 days after birth

Question 4

What are the features of the Childhood health surveillance in the first few years of life?

Answer 4

1. New Baby review with health visitor
2. Otoacoustic hearing emission test
3. Newborn examination with GP
4. Various development reviews and weight measurements by GP
5. Preschool pure tone audiometry hearing test