Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice 7th edition

Full index

Introduction and user guide

Preventive activities before pregnancy

Genetic counselling and testing

Preventive activities in children and young people

Preventive activities in middle age

Preventive activities in older age

Communicable diseases

Prevention of chronic disease

Prevention of vascular and metabolic disease

Early detection of cancers

Psychosocial

Oral hygiene

Glaucoma

Urinary incontinence

Osteoporosis

Screening tests of unproven benefit

References

Appendices

Glossary

Acronyms

Acknowledgements

Disclaimer

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Infants: 1 - 24 months of age

Child health surveillance should be conducted at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 18 months of age. Breastfeeding exclusively to 6 months of age should be promoted. Ongoing assessment of growth (see 3.3 Growth, overweight and obesity), hearing, vision, language, development and social skills should be undertaken in collaboration with parents (B).

Infants: 1–24 months of age: Risk

Who is at higher risk?	What should be done?	How often?	Level of evidence and references
Average risk	Promote breastfeeding Preventive counselling and advice regarding the risks to baby of passive smoking, injury prevention, SIDS, sun safety and nutrition	Opportunistically Opportunistically	III A 96,97 III A 112
	Assessment of: hearing, vision, language development, communication and family functioning	Opportunistically	V C 82,84 107,113

Infants: 1–24 months of age: Intervention

Intervention	Technique	References
SIDS risk reduction advice	Sleep baby: supine from birth with face uncovered (sleeping with feet at the base of the cot may be the best way to keep face uncovered) Avoid passive smoking Avoid sleeping with the baby in bed if adult affected by drugs or alcohol	87,112
Breastfeeding	Provide antenatal information and counselling about the benefits and practical aspects of breastfeeding (and risks of not breastfeeding) to all potential mothers and fathers Encourage, support and promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life	96,97
Hearing surveillance	Explore with parents. The questionnaires in the parent held record (PHR) can be used to facilitate this co-surveillance	86,107
Language, fine motor and social skills surveillance	Explore with parents. The PHR, the ‘Parents’ evaluation of developmental status’ (PEDS), or other tools may be used to facilitate co-surveillance of developmental issues with parents. An electronic directory to other potentially useful tools is included at reference 114	82,107
Family functioning surveillance	Elicit concerns
Vision assessment	Test for strabismus using the cover test and light reflex (Hirschberg) test	82,86,107

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