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Prevention Guidelines for Children and Teenagers

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Prevention Guidelines for Children and Teenagers

Here are the screening tests and immunizations for children older than 2 years of age. Although you and your health care provider may decide that a different schedule is best for your child, this plan can guide your discussion.

Screening	Who needs it	How often
Dental caries and other dental problems	All children ages 1 year to adolescence*	Every six months
Prevention of dental caries in preschool children	Children ages 6 months to 5 years whose primary drinking water source is deficient in fluoride	At routine exams; first visit recommended at age 1 year
Elevated lead levels	All children who are at average and increased risk	Yearly*
Hearing loss	All children	At age 4 or 5; before they start school*
HIV	All adolescents at increased risk for infection	At routine checkups
Iron deficiency anemia	Children ages 9 to 12 months to 5 years who are considered high risk	Yearly
Obesity	Children ages 6 and older	At routine exams
Hearing loss	All children	At age 4 or 5; before they start school*
Vision impairment	All children	At age 4 or 5, and again during adolescence
Immunization	Who needs it	How often
Human papillomavirus (HPV)	HPV2 or HPV4, all females ages 11 and 12 years; HPV4, all males ages 11 to 12 years, and catch-up vaccination for males 13 to 21 years	Three doses total; the second dose given two months after the first dose, and the third dose given six months after the first dose
Diphtheria	All children	Dose between ages 4 and 6 years, and booster between ages 11 and 12 years
Tetanus toxoids	All children	Dose between ages 4 and 6 years, and booster between ages 11 and 12 years
Acellular pertussis	All children	Dose between ages 4 and 6 years, and booster between ages 11 and 12 years
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)	All children	Second dose recommended between ages 4 and 6 years
Chickenpox (varicella)	All children	Second dose recommended between ages 4 and 6 years
Pneumococcal (polysaccharide)	Healthy children ages 2 to 5 years who have not completed the series before their second birthday, and children ages 2 to 6 years who have certain medical conditions	Given once two or more months after last dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, based on child's medical condition. Healthy children who have received the series before age 5 should get one additional dose before age 6.
Influenza (flu), seasonal	All children	Yearly, when it becomes available in the community
Inactivated poliovirus	All children	A final dose between ages 4 and 6 years if the series was completed before age 4
Meningococcal (conjugate)	All children	One dose between ages 11 and 12, and a booster at age 16, or by age 18 if not previously vaccinated; high-risk groups should receive one dose between ages 2 and 10
Hepatitis A	Those at risk or not fully vaccinated	Should be fully vaccinated by age 2; if not, child can be vaccinated at subsequent visits; second dose given at least six months after first dose
Hepatitis B (Recombivax HB)	All children not previously vaccinated	Three doses series: For Monovalent Hep B, the second dose is given four weeks after the first dose, and the final dose is given 16 weeks after the first dose Two dose series: Recombivax HB for children ages 11 to 15 years, given at least four months apart
Counseling	Who needs it	How often
Behavioral, to prevent sexually transmitted infections	All sexually active adolescents	At routine exams
Depression (major depressive disorder)	Adolescents ages 12 to 18	At routine exams