Preventive Pediatrics
Core content
Preventive pediatrics is a high-yield domain because it combines schedules, screening, and counseling. Know the well-child visit schedule, immunization schedule principles, and which screenings occur at which ages: newborn hearing and metabolic screening, developmental and autism screening, vision and hearing screening, lead and anemia screening in at-risk children, lipid screening, and adolescent depression and substance-use screening. Understand true contraindications to vaccines-severe allergic reaction to a vaccine component or prior dose, and live vaccines in significant immunocompromise-versus precautions and conditions that are not contraindications.
Traps
Questions often present a child with mild illness, low-grade fever, recent antibiotic use, or convalescence and ask whether to vaccinate. The answer is usually yes. Another trap is the minimum interval and catch-up schedule: live vaccines not given on the same day should be separated by at least 28 days, while inactivated vaccines can be given simultaneously. Do not miss the distinction between screening and diagnosis. Anticipatory guidance should be age-specific and safety-focused: car seats, safe sleep, water safety, helmet use, firearm storage, and fluoride.
Worked example
A 4-month-old arrives with a runny nose, temperature 37.8°C, and mild cough, otherwise feeding well. Vaccines are due. This mild illness is not a contraindication; administer the scheduled vaccines. Rule of thumb: mild acute illness with or without low-grade fever is not a reason to delay vaccination.