General pediatric care consists of the process of diagnosing the problems which adversely impact the health of children--followed by providing care which minimizes disease and optimizes the potential of each child.
General pediatrics involves assessment a the child, with or without a medical complaint.
Children depend upon the general pediatrician to recognize their problems. In general pediatrics their problem often hasn't yet even been recognized. As general pediatricians we first we observe; we see a child for one thing but we observe them for other problems. Second, we anticipate problems; we know what to expect so we can give guidance about anticipated problems. The third thing we do is screen for hidden problems.
General pediatrics involves detecting the problems that are going to hurt children. Sometimes children come to you for routine care but other problems are recognized by the astute clinician.
Screening Test
· A screening test must be able to be used in a large population
· The disease must be relatively common
· Morbidity is substantial
· Test implementation is achievable
· Intervention is available
A screening test is a test that is use in a large population to detect individuals who have mild, early or asymptomatic disease. Before they normally would come to recognition. There are four things you need for a good screening test. There has to be a disease that is relatively common, it has to be something that hurts children. The morbidity has to be substantial. You have to have a test that is affordable. And then there has to be some intervention available, so that if you find a problem, you have something to offer.
Sensitivity of the Screening Test
· Sensitivity: Refers to the proportion of individuals with disease who are detected by test. (ie, test is abnormal).
· Specificity: Refers to the proportion of individuals without disease who are correctly identified by test (ie, test is normal).
Sensitivity means refers to the proportion of all the individuals who have the disease, how sensitive is this test to detect those who have it. Where specificity means the proportion of those who don't have the disease, who will come out negative. So we don't want a whole lot of false positives.
Inadequate Growth
· Adequate growth depends on adequate calories being provided, absorbed, and utilized.
· Inadequate growth is frequently linked to poor development