A few hours ago we visited, the pediatrician I work with and I, a 14-year-old boy. It is one of the shortest in the class, and it is also October, so all his life has been the smallest of all. The shocking thing for his parents is that in his family they are all very high, to the point that his father measures more than eighty meters, and the uncle reaches almost two meters.
Everything seems to indicate that it has a constitutional growth delay, and it seems that it is now that the signs of puberty are beginning to appear. However, it is already the last revision that we are going to do, because as soon as he turns 15 he will go to the adult doctor, and there is no longer the same follow-up, unless there is a problem or illness.
Like him, there are many children who could benefit from continuing more time with pediatric professionals, just at an age when there are still many changes, and in addition certain risk behaviors are initiated. Is that why the AEP insists on seeing children until they come of age?
Adolescence, a critical period
Perhaps you have heard about this possibility in recent years, that children have more time in pediatrics to also include the years of adolescence and promote greater and better follow-up in these stages.
Now we talk about the subject again, as we read in Heraldo, because the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) insisted a few days ago to carry out this extension by age "because it is a period in which there are many problems and they have not ended its growth ", in the words of the president María José Mellado.
And as I mentioned above, adolescence is a stage of many changes in which many young people have more risk of starting unhealthy lifestylessuch as smoking, drinking alcohol, leading a life that is too sedentary or even starting unprotected sexual practices.
A good relationship between professionals and parents
Both pediatric nurses and pediatricians have been periodically monitoring babies and children since they are born, and thus end up maintaining a relationship of trust with parents that is then extended to children (especially when there is no longer to give them so many vaccines and they start to lose their fear).
This relationship can be very useful to establish a communication with teenagers, normally without the presence of the parents, under the necessary confidentiality and always with a clear premise: professionals are not there to tell people what they have to do, but to explain what are the risks and consequences of certain practices, and offer possible solutions and alternatives.
In the current situation, with 15-year-olds already without reviews or control more than in case of illness and little else, there are many who can become a little "orphans" of reference professionals, and the extension of the age could be very useful, precisely because that is when they need it most clear, concise and valid information (There are many myths they learn from their peers and friends).
But ... they are too big to go to the pediatrician
The only drawback is that many people have a "stick" to go to the pediatrician and be in the waiting room with babies and children, because they feel closer to the adult world than the one they just left behind.
This, obviously, can be solved in many ways: by marking a time slot to visit older children, seeing them in a little out of the way consultations, or even having professionals dedicated mostly to them.
In the center where I work, for example, there is a project to make the review of 13-14 years longer than it is now, and work all the problems and concerns that the child may have so much On a physical level, health, as psychosocial.
But of course, it is a pity that all that is lost later, and that is why we had to transfer that information, that contact, to the professionals who after 15 years will see those children; the other option, as the AEP says, is that nurses and pediatricians stay with them until you come of age.
It seems good to us. And you?
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In Babies and more | As of 2015, Andalusia will extend the "Healthy Child" revisions until age 14
