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Health Screening Guidelines, Ages 2 to 18

Screening tests are a key part of managing your child's health. Screening tests are done to find conditions in people who don't have any symptoms. These tests are not used to diagnose. They are used to find out if more testing is needed. The goal may be to find a disease early so it can be treated with more success. Or the goal may be to find a disease so lifestyle changes can be made. And your child can be watched closely to reduce the risk of disease.

Here are guidelines for children and teens from ages 2 to 18. Talk with your child’s health care provider. Based on your child’s health history and risk factors, the provider may change this advice. Make sure your child is up-to-date on what they need.

Screening	Who needs it	How often
Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections	All females in this age group who have sex	Once a year
High lead level	Children ages 6 and younger	Questions to learn risk, or blood tests, may be done once a year
HIV	Children in this group who are ages 13 to 18. Talk with your child’s provider.	At routine exams at age 13 or older (or younger if at risk)
Obesity	Assessment of risk for all children in this age group	At routine exams
Tooth decay and other dental problems	All children in this age group	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 may be applied every 3 to 6 months, based on the risk for tooth decay. Fluoride rinses may be used in children age 6 years or older, if they are able to rinse and spit.
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes	Children ages 10 or older (or after onset of puberty) who are overweight or obese and have one or more other risk factors for diabetes	At least every 3 years or more often if BMI is going up
Blood pressure	All children 3 years of age and older	Annual well-child visit
Vision	All children in this age group	At least one time between ages 3 and 5 years. After that, every 1 to 2 years.
Hearing	All children in this age group	Once a year ages 4 through 6, followed by more screening at ages 8 and 10. Screening (with high frequency) once between 11 and 14 years, once between 15 and 17 years, and once between 18 and 21 years.
Anemia	All children in this age group	Assess risk at all well-child visits up to 36 months of age and every year after that. Screening as needed per risk factors.

Screening	Who needs it	How often
Depression and suicide	Children ages 12 and older	At routine exams
Behavioral/social/emotional screening	All children in this age group	At routine exams
Anxiety	Children between ages 8 and 18	At routine exams
Prevention of skin cancer	All children in this age group	At routine exams
Prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)	Children in this age group who have sex	At routine exams
Physical activity	All children in this age group	At routine exams
Tobacco, alcohol, or drug use	Children ages 11 and older	At routine exams

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Health Screening Guidelines, Ages 2 to 18

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