Children should be tested at an early age for high cholesterol and depression, according to a new set of guidelines from leading U.S. pediatricians.
The revised, preventive-care recommendations from the American Academy for Pediatrics also add that doctors should test teenagers for HIV.
"By diagnosing early, we can change the course of the disease," Dr. Joseph Hagan, co-editor of the guidelines, told HealthDay.
The recommendations attempt to address health issues like the nation's growing obesity among kids, which leads to higher cholesterol - a risk factor for heart disease.
Hagan notes that lifestyle changes are recommended before prescribing medication, including . changing one's diet to consume healthier foods and getting more exercise.
Doctors should assess, according to the guidelines, the severity of depression in patients and then make the appropriate referrals to a social worker or psychologist for further evaluation and treatment. In some cases, a pediatrician might prescribe antidepressants, Hagan said.
Assessing depression is important, the researcher notes, given that the condition is linked to a higher risk for teen suicides and murder.
Finally, a cholesterol screen at this age can also spot cholesterol conditions that are passed down from parents, he added.
These guidelines provide "the recommended content for a well-child visit," Hagan said. "Some changes are small, some will get people's attention."
The most significant changes include:
- Depression screening at ages 11 to 21
- Cholesterol screening between ages 9 and 11
- HIV screening between 16 and 18 years old
- Critical congenital heart disease screening for all newborns
- No Pap smears and checking for precancerous cervical changes in girls before age 21
One expert, not surprised by these changes, notes that the hurdle is getting all doctors to practice them.
"Many of these changes were ones we anticipated," said Dr. Kristin Hannibal, clinic director of the Primary Care Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. "The major stumbling block is always how do we take these recommendations and implement them across the board."
