Paediatrics: child check-ups, vaccines and common illnesses

The first years of life are crucial for a child's development. Proper paediatric follow-up enables early detection of any abnormality, ensures correct growth and development, and prevents diseases through vaccination.

At Clínica Eupnea in Palamós, the paediatrics service provides comprehensive care for children from birth through adolescence.

Paediatric check-up schedule

Well-child visits are scheduled appointments where the paediatrician assesses the child's growth, development and general health. The usual schedule is:

• First week of life: first paediatric visit. Weight check, breastfeeding, neonatal jaundice
• 1–2 months: growth assessment, reflexes, hips. Start of the vaccination schedule
• 4 and 6 months: weight and height monitoring, motor development milestones, introduction of complementary feeding
• 9–12 months: psychomotor development evaluation, teething, language
• 15–18 months: independent walking, first words, socialisation
• 2 years: language assessment (should say at least 50 words), autonomy
• 3–4 years: pre-school check, vision, hearing
• 6 years: school-entry check, vision and spine assessment
• Adolescence (11–14 years): pubertal development, vaccination and guidance

Vaccines: the best protection

Vaccines are, alongside clean water, the public health measure that has saved the most lives in history. The vaccination schedule protects against potentially serious diseases.

It is important for parents to understand that vaccines are safe and have been extensively studied. The common side effects (mild fever, redness at the injection site) are minor and temporary.

Common childhood illnesses

Children, especially when they start nursery, fall ill frequently. This is normal and is part of the immune system's maturation process. The most common are:

• Colds (6–8 per year): runny nose, cough, mild fever. The vast majority are viral and resolve on their own in 7–10 days
• Otitis media: ear pain, fever, irritability. Common between 6 months and 3 years
• Gastroenteritis: vomiting and/or diarrhoea, often caused by rotavirus in the early years. Keeping the child hydrated is key
• Bronchiolitis: a respiratory infection caused by RSV, common in children under 2. It causes breathing difficulty and wheezing
• Exanthematous diseases: chickenpox, hand-foot-and-mouth, roseola, scarlet fever

Warning signs

Go to the paediatrician or A&E if you notice:

1. High fever in babies under 3 months (>38°C rectal)
2. Breathing difficulty: rib recession, very rapid breathing, blue lips
3. Dehydration: dry nappy for more than 6–8 hours, crying without tears, very dry mouth
4. Petechiae: red/purple spots that do not fade on pressure (to rule out meningitis)
5. Excessive drowsiness or difficulty waking the child
6. Seizures

Healthy habits from an early age

Establishing healthy habits from a young age is an investment in adult health:

• Varied diet: introduce all foods from 6 months (except allergens as advised by the paediatrician), avoid added sugars and ultra-processed foods
• Physical activity: at least 60 minutes of active play per day
• Screens: avoid before age 2; limit to 1 hour a day between ages 2 and 5
• Sleep: 14–17 hours (newborns), 12–14 (1–3 years), 10–12 (3–6 years), 9–11 (6–12 years)
• Dental hygiene: start brushing teeth as soon as the first tooth appears

Frequently asked questions