Is routine detailed screening tests in healthy children necessary?

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to determine if routine detailed screening tests in healthy children are needed or not. Methods: A total of 590 healthy children (mean age: 9.7±2.9 years, M/F: 286/304) who were referred from primary care providers for screening tests were evaluated retrospectively in terms of laboratory findings such as complete blood count, lipid profiles, liver and kidney function tests.  Results: Iron deficiency anemia was significantly more common in teenage girls than boys. Only 16.7% of girls and 16.4% of boys had lipid abnormalities. The other biochemical parameters were within normal limits in both groups. Conclusions: No significant difference was observed in biochemical parameters in healthy children. Thus, unnecessary tests should not be done in healthy children by primary care physicians.

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı sağlıklı çocuklarda rutin ayrıntılı tarama testlerine gerek olup olmadığını değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve yöntem: Çalışmaya aile hekimleri tarafından tarama testlerinin yapılması için tarafımıza yönlendirilen 590 sağlıklı çocuk (ortalama yaş: 9.7±2,9 yıl, E/K:286/304) alınmıştır. Çalışılan test sonuçları (tam kan sayımı, lipit düzeyleri, karaciğer ve böbrek fonksiyon testleri, tiroid testleri) retrospektif olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Demir eksikliğine bağlı anemi ergen kız çocuklarında erkeklere oranla daha sık saptanmıştır. Lipit bozuklukları kızlarda %16,7, erkeklerde %16,4 oranında saptanmıştır. Diğer biyokimyasal parametreler normal tespit edilmiştir.  Sonuç: Sağlıklı çocuklarda ayrıntılı biyokimyasal testler açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı patoloji saptanmamıştır. Bu nedenle, maliyet de düşünüldüğünde aile hekimleri tarafından gereksiz testler istenilmemeli ve bu konuda aile hekimleri bilgilendirilmelidir.

Keywords

• Healthy children,screening tests,biochemical tests

References

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