Check system gives child warrant of fitness

By KATHERINE HOBY

Well Child New Zealand aims to ensure that every child reaches its full potential, including physical, social, educational, economic, and spiritual well-being.

Every child is entitled to 12 Well Child checks, from birth to starting school.

The 12 checks are based around the immunisation schedule and four other areas. Parents can join the free programme through their health-care provider during pregnancy or after giving birth.

HEARING AND VISION

Early detection and protection against hearing loss and vision impairment can save a child from a serious disability.

Well Child screens for hearing loss, and tests for glue ear.

The screens include a checklist for hearing loss at birth, a questionnaire at each visit, and pre-school testing.

Early detection allows for early treatment, which prevents social and learning difficulties.

The incidence of permanent hearing loss in Auckland is approximately 2 for every 1000 live births.

By the time children reach school age 15.7 per cent of Pacific Island children, 13.5 per cent of Maori children, and 6.7 per cent of other children have some form of hearing loss.

Experts say it is vital to act quickly and as with many medical conditions, prevention is better than cure.

Efforts should concentrate on a safe pregnancy, labour, and delivery, and on immunisation - particularly for rubella, mumps, and measles. Breastfeeding provides some protection from glue ear.

Nine per cent of New Zealand five-year-olds have glue ear, often caused by environmental factors such as tobacco smoke and overcrowded living conditions, and if it persists it can cause major learning difficulties.

Well Child screens and tests for eyesight problems.

The aim of vision screening is to detect and treat problems early. If left untreated, childhood vision problems can lead to permanent loss of sight.

NUTRITION

When children are between seven and 12 months old, they have a greater daily iron requirement than an adult male.

Iron helps babies to grow, helps brain development and learning ability, and helps to fight infection.

For the first six months babies get all the iron they need from their own iron stores combined with breast milk or infant formula. Although breast milk is quite low in iron, it is very well-absorbed.

From about six months, infants need iron from the foods they eat. Stores begin to run out, and needs are particularly high between six and nine months.

Iron is found in a number of foods, including red meat. There are two forms of iron: haem and non-haem. The body absorbs haem iron more easily.

Good sources of haem iron include red meats. Other foods traditionally considered high in iron such as spinach and silverbeet, are in fact only high in non-haem iron, which is poorly absorbed.

DENTAL CARE

A baby's teeth are being formed even before birth.

First teeth are important for chewing and speaking and because they help to keep spaces for permanent teeth. If the first teeth are well looked after it is more likely the second teeth will grow into their correct positions. Teeth, like the rest of the body, need a balanced diet to stay strong and healthy.

If a child does occasionally eat sweet, sugary foods, they should be given at mealtimes. Increased saliva flow during meals helps neutralise the effects of sugar.

Pre-school children can get free dental care from birth at a school dental clinic.

"Baby bottle caries" can be a serious problem and is caused by giving young children sweet drinks in a baby's bottle.

It can occur if a feeding bottle is routinely left in a baby's mouth for a long time, particularly at bedtime. The sugars turn to acid which eats into tooth enamel, causing decay.

It is better to put a baby to sleep with a clean pacifier or a bottle of water, or nothing at all.

It is good to get children into the habit of cleaning their teeth with a soft toothbrush with a small smear of fluoride toothpaste.

FAMILY AND WHANAU CARE AND SUPPORT

Well Child's aim is to provide support for families and whanau, in good times and bad.

Extra support can be provided through additional home visits and group education sessions.

Evidence shows that supportive measures result in positive health gains for those children and families in need.

Support and care for whanau depend on needs but can include anything from help with post-natal depression to getting a child ready for school later on.

* Information provided by Well Child New Zealand.

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