Preventive examinations & precautionary measures

During the pediatric preventive check-ups (U1 - U9), particular attention is paid to the timely development of your child. Various tests are performed at each check-up to assess the child's physical, motor, and cognitive development. Please make sure to adhere to the scheduled examination intervals.

U1:		Immediately after birth in the hospital
U2:		03 - 10 days of life (usually still in the hospital)
U3:		04 - 06 weeks of life
U4:		03 - 04 months of life
U5:		06 - 07 months of life
U6:		10 - 12 months of life
U7:		21 - 24 months of life
U8:		43 - 48 months of life
U9:		60 - 64 months of life

The Adolescent Health Check-up (J1), which takes place between the 11th and 15th birthday, is one of the most important preventive examinations. Within a span of 30 years (between the U9 examination at 5 years of age and the adult preventive check-up at 35 years), the J1 is the only preventive service covered by statutory health insurance. In addition to assessing the mental and physical development, discussions are held with the adolescent regarding issues related to alcohol, nicotine, and drug use.

From the age of 35, all statutory insured patients have the opportunity to undergo a health examination. This examination can be repeated every two years (insured individuals of BARMER-Ersatzkasse enrolled in the primary care physician model can have this examination conducted every year). The statutory preventive examination includes medical history taking, physical examination, and the determination of three laboratory parameters (blood sugar, cholesterol level, urine analysis).

Cancer screening examinations are performed in general practice only for men (women should consult their gynecologist). From the age of 45, this examination can be done annually. The cancer screening for men includes medical history taking, examination of the skin, lymph nodes, genitals, and prostate gland.
From the age of 50, a stool test for blood (for early detection of colorectal cancer) is performed. Additionally, there is the option to undergo a preventive colonoscopy from the age of 55.

Many patients find the scope of the statutory preventive examinations insufficient. Upon request, additional examinations are possible. Since these are not covered by the statutory health insurance, they must be paid for by the patient. These include:

• Extended check-up: in addition to the statutory preventive examination, it includes an ECG, pulmonary function test, and a variety of laboratory tests.
• Additional check-up: preventive examination before the age of 35 or annual examination (instead of every two years).
• Determination of homocysteine level (a risk factor for arteriosclerosis) and PSA level (a parameter that can indicate the possible presence of prostate cancer).
• Analysis of body composition, including measurement of body fat percentage, body mass, fat-free mass, and body mass index (important for diets, among others).
• Diagnosis of circulatory disorders.
• Analysis of the autonomic nervous system.
• Bioenergetic diagnostics.
• Tumor marker M2PK for the early detection of colorectal cancer: For patients who do not wish to undergo colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening but still desire a high level of certainty, the tumor marker test offers such an option. The conventional fecal occult blood test detects small amounts of blood in the stool and therefore only detects "bleeding" colorectal tumors. In contrast, the M2PK test measures protein substances in the stool that are released by colorectal tumors and their precursors, polyps. This significantly increases the probability of detecting a tumor or its precursor using a stool test compared to the conventional test. If the M2PK test is combined with the determination of inflammatory markers and blood testing in the stool, a negative test result (meaning everything is fine) nearly achieves the detection rate of a colonoscopy.
• Tumor marker NMP22 for the early detection of bladder cancer: Although bladder cancer is a relatively common type of cancer, it receives relatively little attention in the public perception. Therefore, early detection is all the more important, and it can be performed within 20 minutes using a simple urine test.

In the practice, all vaccinations recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) and covered by health insurance are administered. These include:

• Vaccinations in childhood and adolescence

Vaccination schedule for children and adolescents

End of 2nd month	1. hexavalent vaccination*
End of 3rd month	2. hexavalent vaccination*
End of 4th month	3. hexavalent vaccination*
End of 12th-14th months	4. hexavalent vaccination* and 1st MMR vaccination*
End of 15th month	2. MMR vaccination**
End of 5th-6th year	Booster vaccination for tetanus/diphtheria
End of 9th-17th year	Booster vaccination for tetanus/diphtheria, polio, pertussis

Missed vaccination appointments can be made up at any time.

 

• Hexavalent vaccination: Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (all in one shot) ** MMR vaccination: Mumps, measles, rubella

• In adulthood, vaccination against tetanus/diphtheria (usually every 10 years, earlier in case of injuries). • Vaccination against pneumonia for all patients over 60 years or with serious illnesses (every 6 years). • Annual influenza vaccination for all individuals at risk.

As part of my specialized training in travel medicine, all necessary travel vaccinations can be administered in the practice (except for the yellow fever vaccination, which is available at specific vaccination centers).

Vaccinations recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination but not (yet) covered by health insurance include vaccinations against meningococcal type C (a causative agent of meningitis) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccination.

This includes sports, diving, occupational, or driver's medical fitness examinations.