Adolescent Medicine
Adolescent medicine is a medical subspecialty that deals primarily with the care and treatment of patients who are in the adolescent stage of development. This period usually starts between the ages of nine to 11 for females and 11 to 14 for males. Considered as a primary care subspecialty, adolescent medicine integrates various iatrical aspects such as dermatology, endocrinology, gynecology, nutrition, psychology and sports medicine. It is likewise an integral component of internal medicine, loved ones practice, pediatrics, and youth wellness.
Medical practitioners who delve in the practice of adolescent medicine often address problems and disorders with a high prevalence in the course of adolescence. These contain the following:
§ Precocious puberty
§ Birth control
§ Substance abuse
§ Acne vulgaris
§ Unintended pregnancy
§ STDs or sexually transmitted diseases
§ Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia
§ Menstrual disorders like amenorrhea, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and dysmenorrhea
§ Mental illnesses, especially anxiety disorders, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, key depression, suicidal ideation and certain sorts of schizophrenia
Healthcare providers who deal with adolescents usually take a holistic approach as they try to gather information relevant to the patient’s nicely-becoming. The approach closely resembles the biophysical model which is epitomized in the HEADSS assessment. It is a screening acronym for adolescent patients and stands for Home, Education, Activities, Drugs, Sex, and Suicidality.
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Aside from a comprehensive medical history, adolescents ought to undergo a thorough physical examination as nicely as a mental wellness status exam at least when a year. The physical exam really should contain sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing, a neurological assessment, and a reproductive program exam. In addition, developmental progression really should be documented on an annual basis, and endocrinological tests ought to be regarded as especially among patients who fail to develop in a regular manner.
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Young women ought to be correctly educated on how to examine their breast for signs of breast cancer, and young men ought to know how to examine their penis and testicles for STDs and cancer. Laboratory tests, including a CBC to screen for anemia, and a fasting lipid profile or a spot cholesterol check to screen for hyperlipidemia need to be undertaken at least when in the course of the adolescent period.
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For those who are sexually active, especially patients who are living in areas of high prevalence, screening tests for STDs need to be carried out, which includes rapid plasma reagin (RPR) or venereal illness study laboratory (VDRL) test for syphilis, screening for HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Females who are sexually active should have a pelvic exam, including a Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer.
In terms of immunizations, the following are deemed imperative: a meningitis vaccination, a tetanus vaccination or booster shot, the Gardasil vaccine against HPV particularly for sexually active young ladies, and an annual influenza inoculation.
Teen Addictions