Physical examination

Chapter 7 covers the neonatal and 6–8 week examinations, the school entrant examination, and screening by physical examination for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) (previously known as congenital dislocation of the hip), heart disease including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), hypertension, asthma, and undescended testes and other genital abnormalities.

Health promotion and health care for school-age children and young people

Chapter 5 reviews the changing needs of health care for school-age children, a needs-based approach, the views of children and young people about their concerns and the service they want, starting school—preparation for school and reception into school, special medical needs of children in school, emotional and behavioural problems, bullying, the need for confidential advice and support, the National Healthy Schools Standard and other Government initiatives—health promotion in school, profiles, and prevention of unwanted pregnancy and support for young mothers.

Iron deficiency

Chapter 10 defines iron deficiency, describes its effects, discusses screening and primary prevention, and outlines recommendations.

Laboratory and radiological screening tests

Chapter 9 cover phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism, other metabolic disorders, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, urine analysis and urine infections, reflux, haemoglobinopathies, liver disease in infancy, hypercholesterolaemia, lead poisoning, neuroblastoma, and coeliac disease.

Child health promotion— focus on parents

Chapter 2 gives an overview of activities involved in promoting child health, stresses the importance of a holistic approach to working with families, introduces concepts of social support, social capital, and social networks, discusses the challenges of working with families in difficult circumstances, outlines the evidence that social support is beneficial, considers the impact of various adult health issues on children—parents who have mental illness, are cared for by children, have learning, communication or physical disabilities, have HIV infection, are involved in substance abuse, and summarizes the evidence regarding the characteristics of effective programmes.

Personal Child Health Records and minimum dataset

Chapter 17 deals with Personal Child Health Records: their ownership and use, the content and format of the record, confidentiality, information, distribution, recommendations for use of a National Personal Child Health Record, and information collection and management.

Screening for hearing defects

Chapter 11 describes and defines hearing loss, summarizes the epidemiology, describes the impact of hearing loss on development, lists and discusses the various approaches to screening, and makes recommendations for practice, monitoring, and research.

Secondary prevention: early detection and the role of screening

Chapter 6 asks whether early detection matters, suggests how early detection can be achieved, considers the role of professional help in the early detection of problems, introduces the topic of screening, comments on the need for professional sensitivity, defines screening, sets out the criteria for screening programmes and screening tests, describes and explains recent changes in attitudes to screening, and explains how existing potential screening programmes have been evaluated.

Health for all children?

Chapter 1 summarizes the evolution of the concepts underpinning preventive child health programmes, describes the origins and definitions of the terms ‘child health surveillance’ and ‘child health promotion’ and related definitions, comments on the importance of children’s health in the context of the family and the benefits of family-centred health care, and examines the issues of inequalities, poverty, deprivation, and social exclusion, as well as the concepts of social capital, needs assessment, statutory duties in respect of child health and care, user and carer involvement, and explains the Framework for Assessment of Children in Need.

Implementing the programme

Chapter 19 outlines the issues involved in implementing the programme set out in this book, and suggests that the same principles apply whatever the structure and management of the health care system.