SERVICES
BABY AND CHILD CHECKS
Growth is most rapid during infancy and early childhood. Regular monitoring growth and development is essential to ensure that your child is healthy.
CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE HEALTH CHECK-UPS AT THE FOLLOWING AGES:
- 24 hours after being born
- 2-4 days after birth
- 2-4 weeks
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
TODDLERS HAVE CHECK-UPS AT THE FOLLOWING AGES:
- 18 months
- 2 years
- 2 and a half years
- 3 years
- Yearly thereafter
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE APPOINTMENT?
During each health care check-up, Dr Kruger will assess your child systematically. After a comprehensive assessment, the paediatrician will compare your child’s growth relative to growth standards by plotting your child's growth on the standard growth chart. This will help her to decide regards any concerns.
At these appointments, it is essential to discuss particular age concerns, immunisations, developmental milestones, nutrition, sleep patterns, as well as behaviour, habits and discipline. The paediatrician may do routine immunisation to protect your child from infectious diseases. Most paediatricians will refer you to an immunisation nurse in order to make it easier for you to access the immunisation service.
THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATION SCHEDULE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
| Age | Vaccine | Disease prevented |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | Oral Polio (OPV)
BCG |
Polio
Tuberculosis |
| 6 weeks | Oral Polio (OPV)
Rotavirus (RV) Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV D – Diphtheria T – Tetanus aP – Pertussis IPV – Polio Hib – Haemophilus influenza HBV – Hepatitis B |
Polio
Diarrhoea Ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis Severe throat infections, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis and liver infection |
| 10 weeks | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV | Severe throat infection, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis and liver infection |
| 14 weeks | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV Rotavirus (RV) Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine |
Severe throat infection, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis and liver infection Diarrhoea Ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis |
| 6 months | Measles | Measles |
| 9 months | Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine | Ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis |
| 18 months | Measles | Measles |
| 18 weeks | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV | Severe throat infection, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis and liver infection |
| 6 years | Td T- Tetanus D Diphtheria |
Tetanus and severe throat infection |
| 12 years | Td T- Tetanus D Diphtheria |
Tetanus and severe throat infection |
Remember that this is the standard South African National Department of Health immunisation schedule. You can talk to your paediatrician or immunisation nurse about additional immunisations that are available. This includes flu vaccines, chickenpox vaccine, the MMR (Mumps, measles and rubella), as well as the Human Papilloma Vaccine (HPV) for girls.