Moscow’s chief paediatrician says routine assessments, family medical histories and prompt attention to developmental or behavioural changes can help identify problems early.
Regular check-ups and age-appropriate vaccination remain the foundation of a child’s health, according to Ismail Osmanov, Moscow’s chief paediatrician and head doctor at the Z.A. Bashlyayeva Children’s City Clinical Hospital. He said routine visits allow doctors to assess height, weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing, dental health and how well a child tolerates physical exertion. Further tests, he added, should be based on symptoms, examination findings and family history rather than ordered automatically.
Osmanov also said parents should give paediatricians a full account of illnesses in the family, particularly early heart attacks or strokes, high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes in close relatives. That information can help doctors decide whether a child needs targeted investigations at the right time. He said a yearly set of screening tests for a healthy child is usually unnecessary, but age-based cholesterol testing should not be missed even when a child seems entirely well.
Beyond the clinic, everyday observation matters, too. Osmanov advised parents to watch sleep patterns, appetite, mood, school performance, friendships and a child’s ability to cope with ordinary activity. He said school-age children should be active for at least an hour a day through walking, cycling, play, dancing or organised sport, and he stressed that regular, balanced meals are just as important as exercise.
The advice broadly matches guidance from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which says parents and carers should keep track of developmental milestones, such as a first step, smiling or waving goodbye, from as early as two months of age. The CDC says milestone checklists can help families spot possible delays early, and that concerns should be raised promptly with a doctor so that intervention, if needed, can begin without delay. According to the agency, parents should seek medical advice if a child shows persistent tiredness, a noticeable change in weight, repeated headaches, fainting, breathlessness, chest pain during exertion, a long-lasting loss of appetite or marked changes in behaviour.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
